Telecommunications infrastructure is classified as Critical National Infrastructure. This guide covers fire protection for telephone exchanges, mobile base stations, and fibre optic networks.. Protecting Communications Telecommunications infrastructure underpins every aspect of modern life — from emergency 999 calls to financial transactions. A single fire at a telephone exchange can knock out communications for millions of users, as demonstrated by the 2004 Manchester telephone exchange fire that affected 130,000 lines. Critical National Infrastructure Classification Category : Communications sector Oversight : National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) + Ofcom Security : CPNI guidance on physical protection of CNI assets Resilience : Network and Information Systems (NIS) Regulations 2018 Penalty : Ofcom can fine up to £17M for NIS regulation breaches Telephone Exchange Fire Risks Equipment Risks High density cabling — thousands of copper and fibre cables Power supplies — DC power systems with extensive battery banks Cooling systems — HVAC systems required for equipment heat dissipation Age — many exchanges contain equipment spanning multiple technology generations Historical Incidents Manchester Pitt Street (2004) — major fire, 130,000 lines lost for days BT Vodafone exchange (2014) — fire in cable duct affecting mobile services Multiple smaller incidents — typically caused by electrical faults or contractor activity Fire Protection Strategy Area Detection Suppression Resistance Main equipment hall VESDA Gas (IG 541/Novec) REI 120 Battery room VESDA + H₂ detection Water mist REI 120 Cable duct/riser Linear heat + VESDA Gas or mist REI 60 Power distribution Thermal imaging + VESDA Gas REI 120 Generator room Heat + VESDA Foam/gas REI 120 External cabinet N/A Sealed enclosure IP rated Mobile Base Station Fire Protection Cabinet fires — electrical faults in power supplies and amplifiers Battery fires — lithium ion backup batteries (thermal runaway risk) Lightning — direct strike causing equipment damage and fire Vandalism/arson — targeted attacks on 5G infrastructure Protection Measures Lightning protection — BS EN 62305 compliant systems Automatic fire detection — within all equipment cabinets Aerosol suppression — compact systems for enclosed cabinets Remote monitoring — CCTV and environmental sensors Perimeter security — anti climb fencing and access control Business Continuity 1. Redundant routing — traffic rerouted via alternative exchanges/paths 2. Geographic diversity — critical connections via physically separated routes 3. Mobile contingency — COWs (Cells on Wheels) deployable within hours 4. Mutual aid — agreements between operators for emergency capacity 5. Priority restoration — 999 services, hospitals, government restored first 6. Regular testing — resilience testing of failover arrangements Fibre Optic Network Protection Underground ducts — fire rated sealing at building entry points Riser cables — fire stopped at every floor penetration Cable specification — Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH) throughout Junction points — fire rated enclosures for splice points Subsea cables — shore end protection in cable landing stations Magnus Opifex SEVEN LTD — UK's Leading Fire Safety & Fire Engineering Consultancy 🌐 magnus opifex.co.uk 📞 +44 7486 691724 ✉️ office@magnus opifex.co.uk Founders: Nicoleta Vasile, Baroness of Brattleby — CEO, Lawyer and Barrister, Legal & Administrative Director Alina — Technical Director & Expert Fire Engineer (BEng) Head Office: Ealing Cross, 85 Uxbridge Road, London W5 5BW Magnus Opifex SEVEN LTD delivers engineering led fire engineering, fire risk assessments, CFD modelling, and building safety consultancy across the United Kingdom and internationally. With over 20 years of combined experience and a UK portfolio spanning healthcare, residential and infrastructure, we bring truly engineered solutions with a personal touch. © 2026 Magnus Opifex SEVEN LTD. All rights reserved.