THE SUSTAINABILITY INTERVIEW

Nicki Lyons Chief Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Officer VodafoneThree

communities rely on. At the same time, VodafoneThree is looking inward, working to ensure its own products and services are accessible by design, so more people can use them independently and with confidence.

“ We are enablers of that,” Nicki says.“ We are not the deliverers of it.”

This distinction reflects a broader shift in corporate sustainability, where businesses increasingly collaborate with civil society organisations while also embedding inclusion into the way they design, deliver and improve their own services.

Measuring impact beyond simple connectivity numbers Measuring digital inclusion remains a challenge. Unlike carbon emissions, which can be quantified in tonnes, social impact is more difficult to calculate. VodafoneThree previously set targets to connect millions of people, but Nicki suggests this needs to evolve to a more place-based approach. VodafoneThree is moving towards a more nuanced and community focussed delivery of impact.“ The digital divide is not something you cross once and can differ by circumstance,” she explains.

Individuals may move in and out of digital exclusion due to life events such as job loss, housing instability or changes in health. This perspective reframes digital inclusion as an ongoing need rather than a one-time intervention. It also aligns with broader sustainability trends, where long-term resilience is prioritised over short-term metrics.

“ Connectivity is a human right,” she says. This assertion reflects growing recognition of digital access as a fundamental enabler of economic and social participation. Without it, individuals may struggle to access banking services, healthcare, education or government support.

Connectivity as critical infrastructure The classification of telecommunications as critical national infrastructure – systems and assets essential for the functioning of a society and economy, such as energy, water and transport – is central to VodafoneThree’ s argument.

vodafonethree. com 7