Liberty Global Signs Google Cloud AI Deal

Liberty Global and Google Cloud signed a five-year, wide-ranging partnership to deploy Gemini AI models and cloud tools across the provider’s European footprint. The deal will spotlight AI-driven customer value, cloud optimisation, and new growth opportunities.

On the infrastructure side, the companies will run AI-led programmes aimed at improving network scalability, security, and data sovereignty, while driving down operational costs. They will also explore the option of running Google Cloud services inside Liberty Global’s own data centres to meet excess demand and unlock spare capacity through its Atlas Edge joint venture.

On the consumer side, Liberty Global will integrate Google’s Gemini AI models into its Horizon TV platform, making content discovery smarter and more conversational. The technology will also be extended into customer support channels to improve response times and first-contact resolution. Liberty Global, which serves around 80 million fixed and mobile connections across Europe, added that the tie-up would also expand the range of Google products sold through its channels, including Pixel smartphones, smartwatches, and connected home devices.

The collaboration will reach customers through Liberty Global’s core brands, including VMO2 in the UK, Telenet in Belgium, VodafoneZiggo in the Netherlands, Virgin Media Ireland, and Sunrise in Switzerland. There is also a commercial push in the SME segment, with the pair planning joint go-to-market initiatives to sell cloud, cybersecurity, and AI services covering Google products, third-party solutions, as well as Liberty Global’s own portfolio. In addition, the duo will look to monetise Liberty Global’s telecoms data while maintaining user privacy.

Liberty Global CEO Mike Fries said the deal marks a significant milestone, as the company looks to innovate across its portfolio. “By harnessing the power of AI and cloud technology, we are not only modernising our infrastructure but also creating new revenue opportunities and products that will benefit millions of consumers across our operating companies,” he noted.