SMS Gateways - Vodafone.com

In 1980, Sir Ernest Harrison OBE, chairman of Racal Electronics plc’s, the UK’s largest maker of military radio technology, agreed a deal with Lord Weinstock of General Electric Company plc to allow Racal to access some of GEC’s tactical battlefield radio technology. Briefing the head of Racal’s military radio division Gerry Whent to drive the company into commercial mobile radio, Whent visited GE’s factory in Virginia, USA in 1980.

In 1982, Racal’s newly formed subsidiary Racal Strategic Radio Ltd under CEO Whent, won one of two UK cellular telephone network licences; the other going to British Telecom The network, known as Racal Vodafone was 80% owned by Racal, Millicom with 15% and Hambros Technology Trust 5% respectively. Vodafone was launched on 1 January 1985. Racal Strategic Radio was renamed Racal Telecommunications Group Limited in 1985. On 29 December 1986, Racal Electronics bought out the minority shareholders of Vodafone for GB£110 million.