London, 3 February 2026 – Alphabet’s Google Cloud and European telecommunications giant Liberty Global have agreed on a five-year strategic alliance to accelerate artificial intelligence (AI) integration and cloud adoption across Liberty Global’s expansive operations. This collaboration aims to transform consumer services, enhance network efficiency, and expand commercial opportunities for both companies.
Under the agreement, Google Cloud will deploy its advanced Gemini AI models and a suite of cloud technologies throughout Liberty Global’s cable and telecom infrastructure serving about 80 million fixed and mobile connections across Europe. The deployment is expected to elevate services such as AI-driven search and personalised recommendations on Liberty Global’s Horizon TV platform, as well as streamline customer service operations through automated support solutions.
“We see this expanded partnership with Google Cloud as a milestone in our digital growth journey,” said Mike Fries, CEO of Liberty Global, emphasising the long-term strategic value of embedding AI and cloud capabilities deeper into the company’s platforms.
The deal also includes plans to broaden the availability of Google products, from Pixel smartphones to smart-home devices, across Liberty Global’s key regional brands such as Virgin Media O2 in the UK, Telenet in Belgium, VodafoneZiggo in the Netherlands, and Sunrise in Switzerland.
Beyond consumer enhancements, the partnership will focus on improving operational reliability, network security and the pursuit of autonomous network management. It may also see Google Cloud leverage spare data-centre capacity owned by Liberty Global, including assets managed through its AtlasEdge joint venture, to extend cloud services more efficiently.
Importantly, both companies will work together to offer expanded cloud, cybersecurity and AI services to the small and medium enterprise (SME) segment, tapping into Liberty Global’s significant regional footprint. They also plan to explore new avenues for monetising telecom data in ways that uphold strict data privacy and regulatory standards.
This alliance underscores a broader industry trend in which telecommunications providers are embracing AI and public cloud capabilities to stay competitive, optimise costs, and unlock new revenue streams—especially as telcos worldwide invest substantially in 5G, fibre networks, and digital infrastructure.
