Is Openreach’s Lithium Ban A Wake-Up Call for Safe Battery Design?
Author
Amelia Streeter-Smith
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Openreach stunned the UK telecoms industry recently by issuing an order for the removal of all lithium batteries housed in exchange racks, citing fire and explosion risks. The mandate compelled their customers to implement removal within just 48 hours of the announcement.
The sidestep away from lithium-based powering forces a reckoning:
1) that not all lithium battery solutions are equal
2) safety margins will now dominate procurement decisions
What changed?
The infrastructure operator’s about-turn comes in the wake of new building safety rules. These rules specify the exclusive use of lead acid battery backups in colocation or Access Locate cabinets. It isn’t clear whether these removals will be for the long-term; but it implies that Openreach’s tolerance levels are waning, even in relation to remote failure modes
Is lithium dead for exchanges?
Not necessarily.
The ban doesn’t distinguish between high-risk chemistries and safer variants.
This invites a critical look at how the two lithium options, Li-ion and LiFePO₄, compare. Offering superior thermal stability and longevity, LiFePO₄ batteries could be an alternative. When paired with strong battery management systems and safety certification, it presents viability even in exchange settings.
LiFePO₄ solutions provide precisely the kind of design that infrastructure operators might begin to favor: decent energy density needed while maintaining higher safety margins.
Feature
Energy Capacity
Thermal Stability / Safety
Cycle Life
Cost (per usable throughput)
Chemistry Materials
Management & Monitoring Needs
Lithium-Ion (NMC, etc.)
Higher
More prone to thermal runaway, and sensitive to abuse
Good, but more sensitive to deep discharge & temp cycling
Can be higher (especially factoring in safety systems)
Uses cobalt, nickel, etc.
Requires strong BMS and safety controls
Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO₄, LFP)
Lower (more volume available for same density)
Inherently more stable with lower risk of runaway
Excellent — often 2–3x more cycles than Li-ion
Often more cost-efficient overall
Iron and phosphate: less toxic, more benign
Requires BMS, but margin for safety breach is large
While their decision to deinstall lithium backup batteries might blunt, it suggests Openreach are shifting quickly toward safety-first thinking. For battery suppliers and operators alike, the message is clear: performance can no longer trump reliability, safety, and transparency.
Author – Amelia Streeter Smith, Business Development Director
Amelia’s 25-year career spans telecoms, utilities, and transports sectors. Amelia has secured major contracts within the fiber telecommunications industries along the way, and joined Technetix in 2025 to help strengthen our European footprint. Off the clock, she enjoys watersports, competitive clay shooting and cooking.
