BT has chosen Glasgow tech start-up iOpt to develop new joint products and services aimed at helping its public sector customers reach their net zero emissions targets.
The telecommunications giant will offer the products to local councils across the UK which are looking to adopt environmental monitoring and smart building solutions.
The Internet of Things (IoT) platform provides real-time information and alerts on the condition of properties. Installed sensors allow key information such as damp, mould, and fuel poverty to be collated and tracked.
By empowering local councils to take action to address such issues, iOpt’s solution can assist councils with social regeneration and deliver improved health and wellbeing outcomes for tenants. They can also lower preventative maintenance costs and cut down unnecessary travel to fix issues, reducing carbon emissions.
BT will provide the network connectivity and manage the installation of the IoT sensors, while supporting iOpt in growing its customer base.
Working with Plug and Play, the innovation platform headquartered in Silicon Valley, iOpt is among two start-up companies BT has selected to develop ideas via its Green Tech Innovation Platform, announced last year.
The other company selected is Everimpact, a Paris-based start-up specialising in climate monitoring.
Dane Ralston, managing director at iOpt, said: “We always look to work with value add partners and BT is clearly one of the leaders in connectivity infrastructure which is critical to delivering the potential value we envisage in smart cities and local authorities.
“Since our introduction, through Plug and Play, it’s clear we have many shared values and despite the obvious size difference in the two organisations there are many synergies and benefits to both parties.”
As part of the transition to a low carbon business model, BT recently announced that its network, offices and shops worldwide were now powered by 100% renewable electricity, underpinning its commitment to become a net zero carbon emissions business by 2045.
Alan Lees, director of BT’s enterprise business in Scotland, said: “As the world looks to recover from the current health and economic crisis caused by Covid-19, we have an opportunity to accelerate the transition to a greener society, working in partnership with government, business and society as they look at how they need to adapt and change their business models in the evolving digital world.
“We also appreciate that BT can’t do this alone, with our track record in helping to incubate innovative start-ups/scale ups, such as iOpt, we look forward to bringing the best of our innovative ecosystem to support local councils on their journey towards net zero.”