By Meghna Sharma Vodafone is a British multinational telecommunications company, headquartered in Newbury, Berkshire, United Kingdom. The company operates in three segments. Consumer division of the company provides mobile voice/data, broadband, TV and 5G services. Its business division offers IoT, cloud, cybersecurity and unified communications services to SMEs and multinationals. Other services include mobile money and carrier services. Vodafone is currently focusing on 5G, digital transformation and sustainability.
| Details | Info |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Founder | Ernest Harrison and Gerry Whent |
| Headquarters | Newbury, Berkshire, United Kingdom |
| CEO | Margherita Della Valle |
| Sector | Telecommunications |
Company Profile
Vodafone traces its origins to the year 1982 when Racal Electronics, a British defence and electronics firm partnered with Millicom Inc., an American telecommunications company, to form Racal-Milicom Limited and bid for UK’s second cellular licence. On 1st January 1985, Vodafone was launched as UK’s first mobile network, under the ownership of Racal-Vodafone Limited. However, it was rebranded as Racal Telecom in the year 1987.
In the year 1991, Racal Telecom demerged from Racal Electronics to form Vodafone PLC. Vodafone was listed on London Stock Exchange in the same year. In the year 1999, Vodafone merged with an American company, AirTouch Communications, to expand its capabilities in USA and other countries. The company launched mobile data services in 2001. Its mobile money platform, M-PESA, was launched in the year 2007.
Vodafone currently operates mobile networks in 16 countries and partner networks in 46 countries. Its major partner networks include Vodafone Idea in India and TPG Telecom in Australia. The company has sold its operations in Spain, Italy, Ghana and Hungary.
Origin Country
Vodafone originated in United Kingdom as the country’s first mobile network. Apart from UK, its key markets include Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, Greece, Czech Republic, Ireland, Albania and African countries like Egypt, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa.
Market Cap
Vodafone’s market capitalisation is 20.70 GBP, as of October 2025. Its current share price is 86.50 GBP. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange.