Cover image courtesy of Vodafone

The future is now, and as innovations in science and technology continue to shape the way we operate as a society it’s a future that looks bright indeed! Vodafone believes there’s good reason for optimism, and as one of the world’s largest telecommunications companies, with a presence in 26 countries and more than 500 million customers they believe in the power of that technology. Drawing on the strength of their local and global network of markets and partners, Vodafone has partnered with organizations and people to showcase the positive potential the digital technology can offer. And they’re committed to bringing these latest innovations to Qatar!

As technology continues to evolve, offering users richer, more flexible, and rewarding experiences, Vodafone is making sure that their technology remains at the forefront of that evolution and their services are responsive, relevant, faster, and current. Here’s a few of the exciting future technology projects that are happening right now at Vodafone!

(Photo credit: iStock by Getty Images)

1. Mission to the Moon project, developed by Vodafone Innovation Park Labs

PT Scientists (PTS), a Berlin-based start-up, is working with Vodafone Germany and Audi to achieve the first private moon landing, create the moon’s first telecoms network and take the first ever high-resolution photos of the site where Neil Armstrong once took a small step for man and a giant leap for mankind.

2. Intelligent Transport System developed by Vodafone Group Research & Development

Vodafone has recently opened a 5G Mobility Lab at the Aldenhoven Testing Center in Germany which will be one of the first places in Europe to test out the actual usage of 5G. At Aldenhoven they’ll be testing C-V2X, a technology that will be a key transport safety feature as part of a future Intelligent Transport System that connects vehicles, roadside infrastructure, and pedestrians.

Their Group Research & Development team is also working with the automotive industry to support the creation of ‘5G cars' incorporating C-V2X combined with low-latency, high-bandwidth network communications.

3. Chat anywhere, developed by Network Strategy & Architecture team

Vodafone was the first operator in the world to launch NB-IoT, a Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) network technology which provides an opportunity for customers to be connected at all times.

4. Emergency drones, developed by Vodafone Group’s New Technologies and Innovation team

Vodafone Group’s New Technologies and Innovation team has been experimenting in the hills of northern Andalucía, Spain with mobile relays mounted on a drone. In some areas, their ‘Flying CrowdCell’ delivered 4G coverage of up to 3 Megabits per second where before there was none. It can also connect local users without the need to route the call through the main macro network and is able to offer video streaming for surveillance purposes.

5. DreamLab, developed by Vodafone Australia Foundation

The Vodafone Foundation’s DreamLab app is aiding cancer research. DreamLab is a multi-award-winning app that uses the processing power of users’ idle phones to help solve cancer while they sleep. The Garvan Institute of Medical Research which is undertaking breakthrough medical research in this area needs more computing power to speed up cancer research through processing complex data. DreamLab helps users donate the power of their smartphone to help by simply downloading the app and charging your smartphone while they sleep.

6. Big data for public health, developed by Vodafone’s Research in Data Science team

Vodafone’s data scientists are working on projects analyzing how big data can be used to inform decision-making designed to tackle problems of societal importance.

7. Zero latency gaming developed by Network Strategy & Architecture team

They’re currently piloting options to host servers for gaming companies on their networks designed to provide a premium gaming experience for Vodafone customers. These trials will help Vodafone to be ready for a future where customers are expected to play far more virtual reality and augmented reality games over fixed and mobile networks.

8. Eva Facial Mouse developed by Vodafone Spain Foundation

Marcos Muñiz García is 46 years-old and lives in a small village called Mieres in the heart of Spain’s coal-mining country. He suffers from Cerebral Palsy and in the past struggled to use any mobile devices. Now he’s able to do so thanks to the EVA Facial Mouse created by the Vodafone Spain Foundation and CREA Software System – a free app which allows the user to control an Android device by tracking the movements of their head.

9. Body sensors, developed by their Network Centre of Excellence team

Engineers from Vodafone’s Network Centre of Excellence have been experimenting with how different sensors can interact with smart-watches over a mobile network. Working with the SUB2 project, which aims to help an athlete to one day run a marathon in under two hours, they developed a smart-watch app that can be a better pacemaker for elite runners. This uses GPS location data that’s up to ten times more accurate.

10. Malta biobank, developed by Vodafone Malta Foundation

The Vodafone Foundation in Malta is working with The Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking at the University of Malta to develop an online interactive IT platform and mobile app which will facilitate cutting-edge research that explores genetic causes and potential treatments for diseases such as diabetes, asthma, thalassemia, and ALS.

Did you know that Vodafone was so much more than a telecommunications service provider? Drop us a line an tell us what you think of these innovative projects in the comments below, and don’t forget to like and share this article!

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