BT Group

Protecting network equipment from flooding and heat 

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Climate and nature-related risk: Flooding, extreme heat, and power disruption affecting network equipment and service availability
Solution pathway: Climate-risk assessment; physical asset protection; cooling upgrades; continuity planning

Business type: Telecommunications and digital-infrastructure group
Sector: Communications and digital services
Geography: United Kingdom

In Practice

Communications services depend on equipment remaining accessible, powered, and within suitable operating temperatures. Raconteur’s interview with BT’s climate team describes the use of climate-scenario analysis and designated risk owners to identify vulnerabilities and plan responses across the business. 

BT’s 2026 annual report explains how this analysis guides the installation and upgrading of flood-detection systems, pumps and protective bulkheads. The company also reported investing more than £6 million in network cooling during the financial year, including refrigerant cooling at core network and mobile sites designed for external temperatures up to 45°C.

These measures connect forward-looking risk assessment with engineering decisions about specific assets. BT also works with other infrastructure operators to understand shared vulnerabilities. The temperature figure describes the specified cooling systems’ design conditions; maintaining service additionally depends on electricity, connectivity, and the condition of other network components.

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Why this example was selected

The case combines external reporting on BT’s adaptation approach with specific engineering measures and investment disclosed in its annual report. It provides a direct example of protecting the infrastructure behind digital services against physical climate hazards. Its relevance extends beyond telecommunications because failures in these networks can interrupt transactions, communications, and coordination across many other service businesses. 

Key Lesson

Translate climate assessments into decisions about individual sites, equipment, and engineering standards. Account for dependencies on electricity and other infrastructure, and review whether protective measures remain suitable as conditions change. 

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