The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has signed a five-year contract with BT to use its EE mobile network for real-time data transmission.
Central to the agreement is the provision of 34,000 mobile connections. These connections will support DEFRA staff and link a wide range of devices essential for environmental monitoring, including advanced water-quality sensors and specialised payment terminals used in various departmental operations.
Leveraging EE’s well-regarded network infrastructure, the enhanced connectivity is designed to enable reliable, real-time data flow. This capability is vital for monitoring unfolding situations such as severe weather events, assessing flood risk, tracing the spread of diseases in crops and livestock, and managing water quality information. Immediate access to accurate data allows DEFRA to respond more quickly and effectively to growing environmental challenges.
The network will support employees across the core department and several associated organisations, including the Environment Agency, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Natural England, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), and the Rural Payments Agency (RPA).
Andy Rowe, Director of Central Government at BT, said it is a privilege to welcome DEFRA to the EE network and to support their mission to restore and enhance the environment for future generations. He added that DEFRA’s workers carry out essential duties across the UK and need dependable network coverage, especially during emergencies.
A key element of the contract is DEFRA’s access to EE’s continued investment in the Shared Rural Network (SRN), a UK-wide initiative aimed at improving 4G coverage in hard-to-reach rural areas.
SRN access is particularly important for DEFRA because much of its work takes place in remote locations, far from conventional offices. The improved rural coverage helps ensure that field teams and office-based staff can operate effectively regardless of location.
The contract also includes BT’s commitment to support DEFRA’s environmental sustainability and carbon-reduction goals.
As part of the agreement, DEFRA will gain access to practical tools to manage its environmental footprint, such as eSIMs that reduce plastic waste from traditional SIM cards and BT’s Carbon Dashboard.
The Carbon Dashboard provides detailed visibility into electricity use and associated carbon emissions, broken down by individual workloads and applications. This enables DEFRA to identify energy waste and carbon-intensive activities and take steps to minimise them.
Rowe noted that for organisations with large fleets and field staff, hybrid working extends beyond home and office locations. Continuous mobile connectivity is critical for DEFRA employees who rely on it to perform their duties and serve the public, both day-to-day and in emergencies.
BT’s fixed and mobile networks already underpin many essential public services, including more than 200 NHS trusts, 43 police forces, and 29 fire services. The company has also managed the nation’s incoming 999 emergency calls since 1937.
This contract with DEFRA represents another important public body that depends on BT’s network capabilities for core operations.
(Image credit: BT)
See also: ETSI: Sensing capabilities of 6G networks will transform industries
Looking to revamp your digital transformation strategy? Learn more about Digital Transformation Week, held in Amsterdam, California, and London. The event is co-located with IoT Tech Expo, AI & Big Data Expo, Cyber Security & Cloud Expo, and other industry gatherings.
Explore upcoming enterprise technology events and webinars powered by TechForge.