A new study warns that Britain’s digital backbone, from data centres to fibre optic cables, is dangerously exposed to rising temperatures. As heatwaves become more frequent and intense due to climate change, the very infrastructure that powers our economy and daily lives could begin to fail. The report, published by the Digital Resilience Institute, highlights that many data centres lack adequate cooling systems for extreme heat, while fibre optic cables can melt or distort above 40 degrees Celsius.
The consequences would be catastrophic: internet blackouts, financial market chaos, and disruption to emergency services. The government has been urged to treat digital resilience as a matter of national security, but critics say investment has been too slow. We must act now to safeguard our digital future before the next heatwave pushes the system to its breaking point.
