Key Takeaways:
• Vodafone will coordinate a four-year expansion of the Breathe London air quality monitoring program, overseeing deployment and management of 146 IoT sensors
• The project combines real-time monitoring, community engagement, and academic oversight to deliver calibrated, hyper-local data citywide
• Data will be published on a public dashboard and used to inform environmental policy, public health decisions, and school- and neighborhood-level action
Vodafone has been selected to lead the next four-year phase of the Breathe London air quality initiative, taking the reins of one of the UK’s most visible environmental technology programs. Working alongside a consortium of science, technology, and community organizations, Vodafone will oversee the operation and expansion of London’s network of 146 hyper-local air pollution sensors.
The Breathe London program was launched to improve the capital’s understanding of how pollution varies between neighborhoods and to empower residents and city leaders with actionable data. In this new phase, Vodafone’s role includes infrastructure support, data logistics, and sensor deployment, backed by its advanced IoT capabilities and recent experience running pilot sensor programs in Glasgow.
“It is crucial we can give Londoners access to real-time, hyperlocal air quality data in their area and help them make better informed decisions about their health and well-being,” said Nicki Lyons, Chief Sustainability Officer at Vodafone. “This program puts people at the center and gives them the transparency and tools to push for healthier environments.”
The Breathe London sensor network measures pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and ozone, among others. Each sensor continuously transmits data which is then calibrated against reference-grade monitors for scientific accuracy. That data will feed into a public-facing dashboard where anyone—residents, scientists, policymakers—can track real-time air quality by street, borough, or school zone.
The initiative brings together a wide range of partners, including Global Action Plan, Airly, Ricardo, Scotswolds CERC, the University of Cambridge, Ontix, and SRL. Each organization plays a role in managing sensors, analyzing data, maintaining scientific standards, or driving public engagement.
Community involvement will be led by Global Action Plan, which has a track record of translating environmental data into grassroots impact. Working directly with schools, hospitals, and local boroughs, the group will use air quality data to support behavior change, encourage local traffic interventions, and advocate for clean air policies. In past trials, similar interventions resulted in measurable decreases in roadside air pollution during school pickup and drop-off hours.
“This is about more than just numbers—it’s about empowering communities,” said a spokesperson from Global Action Plan. “When people can see the air they breathe, they’re more likely to demand action.”
The program also includes strong academic oversight. The University of Cambridge, along with environmental consultants Ricardo and CERC, will ensure rigorous calibration and validation protocols are followed. This allows the data to serve not only as a public awareness tool but as a credible foundation for policy and research.
Technology provider Airly is supplying many of the low-cost IoT sensors being deployed, with installation assistance from Ontix and SRL, who will help identify viable placement locations across rooftops, lamp posts, mobile masts, and transport corridors. Vodafone’s network infrastructure will act as the communications backbone, ensuring secure, uninterrupted data transmission.
The Breathe London expansion arrives at a critical moment, as the capital city continues to confront the health impact of air pollution. Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, has repeatedly emphasized that air quality is a public health crisis and a top mayoral priority. The real-time, localized insights delivered by the program are designed to support future clean air zones, traffic policy changes, and educational programs across Greater London.
The initiative also contributes to broader city goals tied to climate action, environmental justice, and citizen science. As part of the lead-up to London Climate Action Week, the program is being spotlighted as a model for civic-driven data infrastructure that blends technology, science, and community partnerships.
Conclusion
With Vodafone at the helm, the Breathe London program enters a new phase of scale, accuracy, and civic engagement. By combining robust IoT technology with proven environmental science and deep community collaboration, the initiative promises not only better data—but a clearer path toward policy change and public health improvement. From schoolyards to city hall, this network puts environmental awareness in the hands of Londoners and reaffirms that clean air is not a privilege, but a shared right supported by transparent, actionable information.
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Rich Tehrani serves as CEO of TMC and chairman of ITEXPO #TECHSUPERSHOW Feb 10-12, 2026 and is CEO of RT Advisors and is a Registered Representative (investment banker) with and offering securities through Four Points Capital Partners LLC (Four Points) (Member FINRA/SIPC). He handles capital/debt raises as well as M&A. RT Advisors is not owned by Four Points.
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