BT and DEFRA Deal Connects 34,000 Devices Nationwide
BT has announced the signing of a landmark telecommunications agreement with the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
The agreement aims to transform mobile connectivity for field operations and digital monitoring across England, Scotland and Wales. The multi-million-pound contract will span up to five years and will deliver 34,000 mobile connections through EE's award-winning network, providing robust support for critical real-time data reporting.
The initiative will significantly bolster rural and remote connectivity for thousands of DEFRA employees and its cluster agencies, including the Environment Agency, Natural England, the Animal and Plant Health Agency, the Marine Management Organisation and the Rural Payments Agency.
Powering real-time data for environmental and agricultural intelligence
At the heart of the agreement is delivering reliable, real-time data from mobile-enabled devices such as water sensors, flood detectors and agricultural monitoring systems. These connections will play a key role in predicting and responding to environmental challenges, including extreme weather events and disease outbreaks in farming.
Andy Rowe, Director of Central Government at BT, highlighted the scale and significance of the contract:
"It's a privilege to welcome DEFRA to the EE network and to support their mission to restore and enhance the environment for the next generation.
"Their workers perform critical work across the UK and must receive reliable network coverage, especially in times of crisis."
Supporting safety and operational resilience for field workers
The agreement strongly emphasises the safety and efficiency of DEFRA's mobile workforce. The improved mobile infrastructure will enhance communications for lone and remote workers, ensuring they remain connected and supported even in the most rural areas.
EE's ongoing investment in the UK's Shared Rural Network (SRN) will make connections to remote areas possible. The SRN seeks to expand 4G coverage to 95% of the UK's landmass. DEFRA will benefit directly from these enhancements, allowing field and office-based personnel to work flexibly and securely.
Enabling sustainable operations through digital tools
In addition to boosting connectivity, BT will provide DEFRA with access to cutting-edge digital sustainability tools. They include eSIM functionality and BT's Carbon Dashboard, a platform designed to track and visualise energy consumption and carbon emissions by application or workload. This capability will allow DEFRA to align its technology use with its environmental targets.
"For organisations 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 emergencies."
The BT Group brings unparalleled experience delivering mission-critical telecommunications infrastructure across the UK. It already supports essential public services, working with over 200 NHS Trusts, 43 police forces and 29 fire services. Since 1937, BT has handled all 999 emergency calls made in the UK.
Through its three operational units—Consumer, Business and Openreach—BT provides a comprehensive range of digital, security and network services to domestic and international clients.
The DEFRA agreement illustrates BT's continued role as a trusted partner in the digital transformation of government operations.
As the UK's leading communications provider, BT remains committed to supporting the evolving needs of public service organisations through secure, scalable and sustainable technology.
The DEFRA deal represents a major step forward in ensuring environmental and agricultural monitoring can keep pace with the demands of a rapidly changing climate and digital landscape
Explore the latest edition of Mobile Magazine and be part of the conversation at our global conference series, Tech & AI LIVE and Cloud & 5G LIVE. Discover all our upcoming events and secure your tickets today.
Sign up to receive the Mobile Magazine weekly newsletter.
Mobile Magazine is a BizClik brand
