London, 3 February 2026, 15:15 (GMT)
- Google Cloud and Liberty Global have struck a five-year deal to roll out Gemini AI and cloud technologies across Liberty’s European divisions
- The deal focuses on AI-driven TV search, automating customer service, and advancing autonomous network operations
- The companies will also look into operating Google Cloud services within Liberty data centres and boosting sales of Google devices through Liberty brands
Google Cloud and Liberty Global have struck a five-year deal to roll out Google’s Gemini AI models and other cloud technologies across Liberty’s European cable operations, the companies announced Tuesday. The partnership aims to boost new consumer offerings, including AI-driven search and discovery features on Liberty’s Horizon TV platform, along with automating customer service. Reuters
Telecom operators are ramping up AI adoption to slash network expenses and prevent customer churn, all while maintaining hefty investments in fibre and 5G.
It also opens up broader access for Google Cloud, one of Alphabet’s fastest-growing divisions, into telecom networks and consumer products just as cloud companies race to make generative AI a steady, ongoing revenue stream.
Liberty Global revealed that Gemini models are now part of Horizon TV, aiming to make content search more conversational and improve first-contact issue resolution—hoping to solve problems in just one interaction. “Our expanded partnership with Google Cloud marks a major milestone for Liberty Global,” CEO Mike Fries said. Libertyglobal
The partnership extends to devices and subscriptions. Liberty’s operating companies plan to roll out more Google products, like Pixel phones and watches, plus smart-home gadgets and services including YouTube Premium, the companies announced.
On the network front, Liberty said the program focuses on boosting reliability and security while pushing toward more autonomous operations—systems that detect performance problems and initiate fixes with less manual intervention. It also highlighted “data sovereignty,” meaning sensitive data stays under local control to satisfy regulatory and customer demands.
The companies plan to run select Google Cloud services within Liberty Global’s data centres to handle growing demand. Liberty also mentioned the possibility of tapping into extra Google Cloud capacity via their AtlasEdge joint venture.
They’re also aiming at small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs), offering cloud, cybersecurity, and AI services. Plus, they want to find ways to monetise Liberty’s telecom data without breaching privacy rules.
“Our aim is clear: leverage technology to simplify complexity and deliver real value to our customers and partners,” said Tara Brady, president of Google Cloud for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Businesswire
Google Cloud aims to catch up with heavyweights Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure in the cloud arena, seeing telecom partnerships as a way to handle hefty data loads and tap directly into millions of users.
Liberty Global manages roughly 80 million fixed and mobile connections throughout Europe. Its operations cover Britain’s Virgin Media O2, Belgium’s Telenet, the Netherlands’ VodafoneZiggo, and Switzerland’s Sunrise, the companies confirmed.
The benefits are obvious, but the infrastructure can cause headaches. Deploying AI tools across several operating companies and outdated systems often stretches beyond initial timelines. Plus, attempts to monetise customer data face strict scrutiny under Europe’s stringent privacy rules.
