STRATEGIC SECURITY & MOBILE PTNRSHIP WITH BAE SYS

RNS Number : 0512Y

Vodafone Group Plc

18 February 2013

 



18 February 2013

VODAFONE AND BAE SYSTEMS FORM STRATEGIC SECURITY AND MOBILE PARTNERSHIP

BAE Systems plc, one of the world's largest defence, aerospace and security companies, and Vodafone Group Plc, one of the world's largest mobile communications companies, today announced the formation of a strategic five-year partnership to provide businesses with a range of advanced communications security products and services, initially focused on smartphones and tablets. Additionally, BAE Systems today announced that it intends to select Vodafone as its preferred supplier of mobile communications worldwide, excluding the US.

The formation of the partnership is part of BAE Systems' continued commitment to grow its cyber and security arm, BAE Systems Detica, in areas such as the communications technology market. For Vodafone, the partnership extends the company's commitment to provide its global enterprise customers with the most advanced and robust security products and services available.

The first commercial element of the strategic partnership between Vodafone and BAE Systems will be a new cloud-based mobile security solution, Vodafone Mobile Threat Manager, to be brought to market in Spring 2013 and initially available to Vodafone's largest 1,500 global enterprise customers. Vodafone Mobile Threat Manager works across all networks, scanning traffic to and from a company's mobile devices in order to safeguard against malicious attacks and block inappropriate content, without impacting on device performance.

Under the terms of the partnership, BAE Systems will also confirm its intention to select Vodafone as its preferred global supplier of mobile communications, excluding the US.

Once appointed, Vodafone will provide services to BAE Systems' 35,000 UK employees from July 2013, with a view to expanding these services across its global workforce over the term of the contract.  Vodafone is additionally discussing the supply of Unified Communications to BAE Systems in the UK. The partnership also provides a framework for both companies to explore a broader range of joint security products for other business areas including interconnected devices using machine to machine (M2M) technology.

Vittorio Colao, CEO of Vodafone Group, said: "Mobile is transforming enterprise; businesses big and small now rely on mobile services to an extent unimaginable five years ago. As a new generation of mobile-centric security risks begins to emerge, our customers are looking for our help to protect their businesses. Our partnership with BAE Systems will strengthen further our commitment to meet our customers' increasingly complex cyber security needs. We also look forward to working with BAE Systems as the company's communications partner."

Ian King, CEO of BAE Systems, said: "This partnership is unique, not only in bringing together a defence and security player with a major communications provider, but also in its ability to help global enterprises realise their ambitions around leveraging the future of communications technologies in a secure manner. These technologies are subject to the vulnerabilities of cyber space and we can provide the mobile marketplace with protection against today's threats and the advanced threats of the future."

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For further information:

Vodafone Group

Media Relations  

Telephone:  [phone]

BAE Systems Detica

Natasha Davies, Head of PR and Media

Telephone: [phone] or [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

Notes to editor:

Vodafone Global Enterprise White Paper on Enterprise Security:

 http://enterprise.vodafone.com/insight_news/05-16-2012-cost-mobility-and-security-a-continuing-question-of-control-white-paper.jsp 

About Vodafone

Vodafone is one of the world's largest mobile communications companies by revenue with approximately 403 million customers in its controlled and jointly controlled markets as of 31 December 2012. Vodafone currently has equity interests in over 30 countries across five continents and more than 50 partner networks worldwide. For more information, please visit www.vodafone.com  

About BAE Systems and BAE Systems Detica

BAE Systems Detica delivers information intelligence solutions to government and commercial customers and develops solutions to strengthen national security and resilience. Detica is part of BAE Systems, a global defence, aerospace and security company with approximately 90,000 employees worldwide. BAE Systems delivers a wide range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. For more information, please visit www.baesystems.com

BAE SYSTEMS and DETICA are trademarks of BAE Systems plc.

 

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