Vodafone is to become a tier-one contractor for Sizewell C, the 3.2GW nuclear power station under construction on the UK’s Suffolk coast.

One of the biggest clean energy projects in Britain, Sizewell C will generate 7% of the UK’s electricity needs, providing low-carbon electricity to six million homes for at least 60 years and saving nine million tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere annually. 

In the first phase of this collaboration, Vodafone will build two masts on site to provide 5G mobile coverage for the Suffolk site and the surrounding community. Vodafone’s partner, Fern Communications will provide seamless radio coverage eliminating potential communication black spots throughout the Sizewell C construction site.

The 5G coverage and radio will bring a host of benefits to Sizewell C’s operations, including enhanced communication among workers, enabling seamless co-ordination across teams working on a large-scale construction site. Additionally, better mobile infrastructure will support the exchange of data and updates, improving the overall efficiency and productivity of the construction process.

VodafoneThree, the company formed in 2023 by the merger of Vodafone and rival UK mobile operator Three, will also deploy fibre to the site, so the entirety of the construction project will able to use wifi to connect to LANs and WANs. This will complement the 5G coverage, enhancing operational efficiency. The connectivity project, which began in November 2024, promises to help support construction site safety, security and efficiency, and strengthen mobile connectivity across the site.

Improved mobile coverage will provide more reliable connectivity for residents and businesses in the surrounding area, facilitating access to digital services and supporting the growth of the local economy.

“Connectivity is vital for this project,” said Damian Leydon, Sizewell C site delivery director. “High-quality, reliable connection helps us to operate at the highest standards of safety and efficiency. So, it’s an important step to be working with VodafoneThree and Fern Communications to provide what we need on site. And it has the added benefit of providing 5G for the local area too: another great example of how benefits to the project can go hand-in-hand with benefits for the local community.”

A British project majority-owned by the government, Sizewell C will help achieve clean power by 2030 and support the UK’s long-term energy independence. The project will support thousands of jobs across the UK, creating 1500 apprenticeships, and will deliver 70% of its construction value to British suppliers.  

“We are delighted to be the connectivity partner for Sizewell C,” said Nick Gliddon, business director of VodafoneThree. “Alongside our contractors, we will deliver robust, secure and resilient communications infrastructure that is essential to the success of one of the UK’s most significant energy projects and to support the UK’s transition to cleaner energy. This partnership underscores our commitment to enhancing connectivity across the country, ensuring that communities and businesses in Suffolk and beyond can benefit from the advancements in technology and infrastructure that Sizewell C will bring.”

Sizewell C (sizewellc.com) has already delivered £4bn in contracts to more than 300 UK suppliers and has so far spent £330m with 77 regional suppliers, including 41 in Suffolk alone. This latest agreement will also benefit local business in Suffolk, with VodafoneThree partnering with local company Fern Communications to provide radio connectivity.

“As a Suffolk-based company with a diverse workforce and deep roots in the energy industry, we are thrilled to partner with VodafoneThree on a project of such national importance,” said Clive Cushion, technical director at Fern Communications (ferncom.com). “Our mission is to deliver an unparalleled communications system that will support Sizewell C’s operational efficiency, safety and long-term success.”

This partnership reflects VodafoneThree’s growing reputation as a partner for the UK’s energy industry. A recent win with SP Energy Networks (www.spenergynetworks.co.uk) is aiding efforts to modernise the UK’s energy infrastructure and meet the country’s net zero targets.

VodafoneThree (www.vodafonethree.com) is also the connectivity partner at Sizewell’s sister project, Hinkley Point C in Somerset, where more than 10,000 people are working on its construction. Across England, Scotland and Wales, VodafoneThree works with all the electricity and gas transmission operators, as well as the electricity and gas distribution operators supporting energy organisations that serve over 22 million households and businesses across the UK.