History of Vodafone

Headquartered in Newbury, Berkshire, England, Vodafone Group plc is the largest mobile telecommunications network company in the world.

It holds equity interests in over 30 countries and has franchise agreements in 40 more. Vodafone was the first carrier to launch in the UK, and its pitch for the business market dovetailed nicely with rise of Margaret Thatcher’s enterprise culture.

Vodafone was formed in 1984 as a subsidiary of Racal Electronics Plc. In 1982, Gerald Whent, chairman of Racal Radio Group, created a new division, Racal telecoms after convincing Racal board to bid on a private sector cellular license being offered the British government.

Approximately 20% of the Companies capital was offered to the public in October 1988. The new division, Racal Telecoms was to develop and implement the analog network, which was named Vodafone to convey the transmission of voice and data services over mobile phones.

Vodafone made history with the first UK mobile on 1 January 1985. The call was made by comedian Ernie Wise form Katherine’s Dock in London to Vodafone’s base in Newbury. Since then has gone on to became one of the largest communications companies in the world.

Vodafone was an early participant in the second generation GSM cell phone network, first in the UK in 1991. Vodafone collaborated with Telecom Finland in the world’s first international roaming call in 1992.

In September 1991 Racal and Vodafone were fully demerged and Vodafone Group Plc was listed in the New York NA London Stock Exchange.
History of Vodafone