BT has forged a significant partnership with the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), involving a substantial five-year contract. This ambitious collaboration will connect 34,000 DEFRA workers, machines, and sensors to enable real-time data reporting. The data aims to predict extreme weather events, such as floods, and avert critical incidents like agricultural disease outbreaks or water contamination. Moreover, it promises enhanced rural safety for DEFRA’s field workers, aligning with its carbon reduction goals.
The project spans across England, Scotland, and Wales, linking cluster members within DEFRA such as The Environment Agency, the Animal, Plant & Health Agency, Natural England, the Marine Management Organisation, and The Rural Payment Agency. Devices will operate via BT’s EE-branded mobile network, backed by the UK’s Shared Rural Network (SRN).
SRN stands as a public-private £1 billion initiative initiated in 2020, aimed at resolving rural 4G/LTE connectivity issues. Its goal is to cover 280,000 rural premises and 16,000 km of rural roads. The UK government provided £500 million, matched by investments from the UK’s leading mobile network operators: EE (BT), Vodafone, Three, and Virgin Media O2. Operators share masts and infrastructure, minimizing costs and duplication.
Through the new DEFRA contract, EE mobile devices will be issued to remote and lone workers. The agreement extends to sensors monitoring water quality, flooding, agricultural crops, and livestock. Connected rural payment machines and other devices are also included.
One of the standout offers in this deal is BT’s support for DEFRA’s carbon reduction goals. It provides pivotal tools like eSIM capability and its Carbon Dashboard product, displaying electricity use and carbon emissions. This initiative aims to curtail waste and reduce carbon footprints. On a broader scale, BT’s public sector engagements encompass contracts with 200 NHS trusts, 43 police forces, and 29 fire services.
Commenting on the initiative, Andy Rowe, director of central government at BT, stated, “For organizations with large fleets and field workers, hybrid working is about more than just home and office spaces. Staying connected on the go is critical for DEFRA’s workers who rely on mobile connectivity to operate effectively and serve the wider public community daily or in emergency situations.”
