BT Group won a contract with a UK government agency to supply 34,000 connections for IoT sensors and worker devices in remote and rural areas, a deal positioned as supporting real time identification of critical events.
The deal with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) runs for up to five years and is described by the operator as a multi-million-pound contract.
It covers connectivity for a range of devices, including water sensors and payment machines as well as those used by workers from the agency and affiliated organisations.
In terms of IoT, the operator indicated the deployment would support reliable reporting of potentially dangerous developments like poor water quality, extreme weather, food issues and disease related to crops and livestock.
BT added the move would increase safety for field workers in remote parts of England, Scotland and Wales, including those operating alone.
BT director of central government Andy Rowe highlighted the agency’s staff “perform critical work across the UK and it’s vital they are provided with reliable network coverage, especially in times of crisis.”