Eurobites: BT lands five-year data-monitoring contract with DEFRAEurobites: BT lands five-year data-monitoring contract with DEFRA

BT has signed a multi-million-pound deal with the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) for sensor-based monitoring of environmental data relating to the likes of water quality and the spread of disease through crops or livestock. The contract, which will run for up to five years across England, Scotland and Wales, will use the wireless network of EE – BT's mobile arm – to provide 34,000 connections for DEFRA workers and a range of devices, from water sensors to payment machines. (EE is the mobile arm of BT.)  BT has also committed to support DEFRA's carbon reduction plans as part of the deal – DEFRA will be given access to tools such as BT's Carbon Dasard. (See EE drills down on 4G benefits for rural regions.)

BT job losses on the cards in Londonderry

In related news, the BBC reports that BT is proposing to close its office in Londonderry with the potential loss of around 140 jobs in the Northern Ireland city. Most of the jobs there will be transferred to India, though some employees may be able to transfer to BT's Belfast office, said the company. However, in January it was reported that as many as 90 jobs could be at risk at the Belfast office due to planned restructuring there. (See BT still stands for bloated telecom.)

Openreach bags lucrative Project Gigabit gig in Scotland

And in yet more related news, Openreach, the semi-autonomous network access arm of BT, has been awarded a £157 million (US$209 million) contract by the UK government to connect around 65,000 home and businesses in some of the more remote areas of Scotland, including the Highlands and the Outer Hebrides. The contract is described as the largest ever under the Project Gigabit scheme, which targets places deemed too difficult or expensive for providers to reach without taxpayer subsidy. (See Eurobites: Scottish 4G boost as government-funded mast is activated and Eurobites: Orkney taps into water-pipe network for high-speed broadband.)

Survey sheds light on unconnected farms

Eight percent of British farms have no Internet connectivity at all, according to a new survey commissioned by UK altnet CityFibre. This is despite almost two-thirds of farmers surveyed believing that an Internet connection is critical for day-to-day farming activities. Issues around the reliability and speed of Internet connection were also cited as the second-biggest barrier to their use of new farming technologies, after purchasing cost.

Meta sounds warning to its European users

Meta is warning of a "materially worse user experience for European users" of its social media platforms as it seeks to comply with EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA). The European Commission recently concluded that Meta's "subscription for no ads" model is not compliant with the DMA as it stands. Tweaks to the model could have a "significant impact" on Meta's European business as early as the third quarter of this year, claims the tech giant. (See EU moves ahead on new rules to tackle Meta and more.)

Ofcom counts customer complaints

Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, has been totting up customer complaints again, this time for the period from October to December 2024. Repeat offender TalkTalk was once again in the firing line, sharing the broadband pit of shame with NOW Broadband. TalkTalk did, however, see a decrease in complaints. Plusnet and Sky were the broadband providers generating the fewest customer gripes. On the mobile side, O2 was on the naughty step, while EE, Sky Mobile and Tesco Mobile were the goody-two-shoes. (See Eurobites: VMO2 pounded by Ofcom's complaints police and Eurobites: Vodafone cops a Q2 complaints calamity.)

MLL Telecom hires former Vodafone exec for Scottish push

UK public sector specialist MLL Telecom has appointed former Vodafone bod Kirste Johnston as its strategic client director for Scotland and North of England. MLL Telecom is based in Marlow, Buckinghamshire.