The operator of one of the United Kingdom’s largest wholesale broadband networks, has told its customers remove your lithium batteries from BT exchanges within two days.
Those two days have passed since IS Preview broke the news on September 26, 2025. This news could be quite significant, as we put together the pieces. It comes hot on the heels of several recent unrelated data center and battery storage fires.
Why Remove Lithium Batteries from BT Exchanges?
We don’t have a direct answer to that question. However, we do know that British Telecom (BT) manages the cables that connect phone and broadband services. Perhaps the broadband operator is a major BT tenant, that rents rack space to its own customers.
Data Center Dynamics made an intriguing comment on September 29, 2025. They wondered whether the wholesale broadband operator had banned lithium batteries due to “due to the significant risks of thermal runaway, fire and explosion.”
There’s an echo of that thought in LS Preview’s comment that the operator “mandates the use of lead acid batteries as the preferred and safest option for battery backup in … colocation customer cabinets.”
A Broader Background – How Widespread Is This?
From what we have heard, this request only affects a few customers in those BT exchanges, who chose to install their own backup batteries. We are somewhat surprised at the embargo on all lithium batteries, assuming these two reports are correct.
Lithium-ion batteries are responsible for the spate of battery fires that are making headlines. Other varieties using the lithium metal are safer, although we believe none can compete with the safety record of lead-acid batteries.
The problems caused by lithium-ion batteries should not occur if they are manufactured properly, correctly, and used safely.
The issue centers on cheap substandard imports, which may be counterfeits of other quality lithium-ion products. Perhaps this is behind the decision to tell customers to remove their lithium batteries now.
At the end of the day, consumer safety depends on us, the consumer. The onus is on us to drive safely, and check the use-by-dates on the food we buy. Perhaps it is time we start background-checking the companies from whom we source our batteries …
More Information
Lead or Lithium-Ion Data Center Batteries
