BT Group Secures £1.29bn Contract to Continue Powering the UK’s Emergency Services Network

BT Group Secures £1.29bn Contract to Continue Powering the UK’s Emergency Services Network

(IN BRIEF) BT Group has secured a £1.29bn contract with the Home Office to provide mobile services for the Emergency Services Network (ESN) over 7.25 years, with an option for a one-year extension. The ESN, built on EE’s award-winning 4G network, supports over 300,000 first responders with secure, priority communication capabilities. BT will expand coverage, manage key systems like Air-to-Ground (A2G) and transport tunnels, and roll out the UK’s largest indoor coverage solutions. This agreement continues BT’s longstanding role in supporting critical public services and emergency communications infrastructure.

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 2-Dec-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — BT Group has announced a new £1.29bn agreement with the Home Office to deliver mobile services for the Government’s Emergency Services Network (ESN) over the next 7.25 years, with an optional one-year extension. The ESN is a mission-critical communications system providing fast, secure voice, video, and data capabilities across the EE 4G network, ensuring frontline responders such as police, fire, and ambulance services can access essential information even in the most challenging scenarios.

Initially launched in 2015 as part of the Home Office’s Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme, the ESN replaced the older Airwave system, offering significant upgrades through EE’s award-winning network. This included the development of a dedicated core network, priority connectivity, and the enhancement of over 19,500 4G sites to improve rural and critical area coverage.

Under the new contract, BT Group will expand its responsibilities, maintaining and enhancing ESN capabilities for more than 300,000 users while ensuring seamless connectivity across EE’s 4G Radio Access Network (RAN). Additionally, the company will manage specialized systems, including the Air-to-Ground (A2G) network, Extended Area Services (EAS) sites, London Underground, and specific transport tunnels. This initiative will also involve the UK’s largest roll-out of indoor coverage solutions to meet Public Safety Communications Services standards.

Bas Burger, CEO – Business at BT, reaffirmed the company’s commitment: “BT Group has long been a trusted partner for Britain’s Emergency Services Network. Through our cutting-edge EE mobile network, we’re proud to ensure mission-critical communications remain reliable and accessible, helping protect the communities served by our emergency responders.”

BT Group continues to lead in providing critical connectivity infrastructure in the UK, supporting public services from national and local governments to NHS trusts and emergency services. Since 1937, the company has played a pivotal role in managing 999 emergency calls, further solidifying its legacy in safeguarding the nation’s communications.

Notes: EE’s network accolades based on RootMetrics® UK RootScore® Report H1 2024. Visit ee.co.uk/claims for more details.

About BT Group

BT Group is the UK’s leading provider of fixed and mobile telecommunications and related secure digital products, solutions and services. We also provide managed telecommunications, security and network & IT infrastructure services to customers across 180 countries.

BT Group consists of three customer-facing units: Consumer serves individuals and families in the UK; Business covers companies and public services in the UK and internationally; Openreach is an independently governed, wholly owned subsidiary wholesaling fixed access infrastructure services to its customers – over 700 communications providers across the UK.

British Telecommunications plc is a wholly owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange.

For more information, visit www.bt.com/about

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SOURCE: British Telecommunications