Thought to be one of the biggest public sector communications contracts in recent years, BT was reportedly not even shortlisted.
The deal – with a combined value of approximately £5 billion over the next 10 years – involves advancing and upgrading the radio and communications devices used by fire, ambulance and police workers across the UK.
Given its position and past government communications contracts, as well as its recent push into the mobile market, BT was expected to be a front-runner for the deal.
The contract is instead being fought for by O2, EE, Vodafone and MVNO Airwave, with Arquiva and UK Broadband Networks also expected to bid for parts of the deal.
