Vodafone Teams Up with Google Cloud on Data Analytics

FILE PHOTO: The Vodafone logo is seen at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, February 28, 2018. REUTERS/Sergio Perez
FILE PHOTO: The Vodafone logo is seen at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, February 28, 2018. REUTERS/Sergio Perez
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Vodafone Teams Up with Google Cloud on Data Analytics

FILE PHOTO: The Vodafone logo is seen at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, February 28, 2018. REUTERS/Sergio Perez
FILE PHOTO: The Vodafone logo is seen at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, February 28, 2018. REUTERS/Sergio Perez

Mobile operator Vodafone Group Plc and Alphabet Inc's Google Cloud entered a strategic partnership to jointly develop data services, Vodafone said on Sunday.

About 1,000 workers in Britain, Spain and the United States will be asked by both companies to create "Nucleus", a new cloud-based storage and analytics portal which will host Vodafone's data.

Nucleus will be capable of processing around 50 terabytes of data a day within the cloud, Vodafone said in a statement.

"Both companies will drive the use of reliable and secure data analytics, insights, and learnings to support the introduction of new digital products and services for Vodafone customers simultaneously worldwide," the statement added.

Google did not respond to Reuters request for a comment. The news was first reported by the Financial Times on Sunday.

As part of the six-year agreement, both companies will also develop a system called 'Dynamo', which can extract and transport data across different countries where the British-based telecom company operates.

According to the FT report, the two companies also want to sell consultancy services to other multinational businesses looking to move huge amounts of data to the cloud in the future.



Saudi Arabia's Video Game Market Booms with over 2.4 Million Consoles Imported in Two Years

A Saudi flag flutters atop Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul, October 20, 2018. REUTERS/Huseyin Aldemir
A Saudi flag flutters atop Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul, October 20, 2018. REUTERS/Huseyin Aldemir
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Saudi Arabia's Video Game Market Booms with over 2.4 Million Consoles Imported in Two Years

A Saudi flag flutters atop Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul, October 20, 2018. REUTERS/Huseyin Aldemir
A Saudi flag flutters atop Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul, October 20, 2018. REUTERS/Huseyin Aldemir

Saudi Arabia's video game sector has seen remarkable growth in the past two years, with imports of video game consoles reaching over 2.4 million units in 2024 and 2025, according to data from the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority.

In 2024, over 1.7 million units were imported, while 684,489 units have been imported so far in 2025. China, Japan, and the United States were the top suppliers, SPA reported.

The Saudi Internet Report 2024 from the Communications, Space and Technology Commission highlighted significant improvements in the digital infrastructure, including an 88% improvement in response time for popular video games. The report also detailed usage trends, showing that smart devices are the most used platform (24.2% of users), followed closely by PlayStation (23.8%).

PlayStation is the dominant platform for the 10-19 age group, while smart devices are preferred by older demographics. Whiteout Survival, Roblox, and Subway Surfers were the most downloaded mobile games.

The Esports World Cup, which is being held in Riyadh from July 7 to August 24, reinforces the Kingdom's growing role as a global gaming hub. The event features over 2,000 players from more than 100 countries competing for prizes exceeding $70 million, solidifying Saudi Arabia's position in the global gaming and esports scene.