Vodafone Group plc (LSE: VOD, NYSE: VOD, NASDAQ: VOD) is a British multinational mobile network operator headquartered in Newbury, Berkshire, United Kingdom. Vodafone is the world's largest mobile telecommunication network company, based on revenue, and has a market value of about £71.2 billion (November 2009).[2] It currently has operations in 31 countries and partner networks in a further 40 countries.[3] As of 2009[update], Vodafone is the third largest provider of wireless service in the United Kingdom, with over 18 million wireless customers and it is the second largest in the world after China Mobile, with over 427 million customers in 31 markets across 5 continents.[4] As of March 31, 2009, the company employs more than 79,000 people worldwide.[5]
The name Vodafone comes from voice data fone, chosen by the company to "reflect the provision of voice and data services over mobile phones".[6]
Vodafone owns 45% of Verizon Wireless, the largest wireless telecommunications network in the United States, based on number of subscribers.