The partnership is initially expected to target smartphones and tablets, with the intention of eventually providing a variety of communications security products and services across all business areas.
BAE has a claimed commitment to growing its cyber and security division in the communications market which the partnership addresses, whilst Vodafone is expected to benefit from the ability to offer its customers innovative and more robust security services.
In a statement today, Vodafone said that the first element of the partnership will be a cloud-based mobile security solution, available to 1,500 of its largest enterprise customers. The solution is expected to launch in Spring this year.
“Mobile is a transforming enterprise, businesses big and small now rely on mobile services to an extent unimaginable five years ago,” said Vittorio Colao, CEO of Vodafone Group.
“Our partnership with BAE will strengthen further our commitment to meet our customers’ increasingly complex cyber security needs.”
The deal also states that Vodafone will be chosen as the preferred mobile supplier for BAE, providing services to 35,000 BAE employees in the UK as of July 2013.
There are reported discussions of expanding these services throughout the duration of the contract, as well as the potential supply of Unified Communications to BAE Systems in the UK.
Vodafone reported disappointing Q4 financial results earlier this month.
It appears to be attempting to increase revenues outside of core services, through cloud and security for example.
