A recent market study by INCA (Independent Networks Cooperative Association) and Point Topic reveals that alternative network builders in the UK have collectively expanded fibre infrastructure to more premises than BT’s Openreach unit. By the end of 2023, UK altnets had reached 12.9 million premises with fibre, exceeding Openreach’s coverage of 12.8 million.
BT is making significant strides in cost-saving initiatives, primarily through the strategic deployment of AI across its operations. This adoption is transforming BT’s efficiency, particularly in its BT Consumer division, by automating processes like customer care and marketing. As AI reshapes BT, the focus remains on maintaining service quality amid workforce reductions.
BT and Openreach have secured a £9.8 million contract to deliver high speed broadband to over 1,700 underserved sites in Southwest Wales. This major infrastructure project aims to bridge the digital divide, boost connectivity in remote areas, and support economic and social development.
BT’s financial report for the first half of 2024 reveals a 3% revenue decline due to the competitive retail market, while profits fell by 10% owing to heightened costs. On a positive note, BT’s fibre network now covers over 16 million UK households, bolstered by the rapid fibre deployment by Openreach.
BT has launched the GenAI Gateway, an advanced platform designed to integrate large language models (LLMs) into their operations, boosting VoIP solutions. Developed with AWS, this platform centralizes access to AI models from leading providers like Anthropic and Meta, enhancing VoIP service delivery with robust security and flexible AI tools.
BT Group has reported a slight revenue increase to £20.8 billion, a 1% rise from last year, driven by price hikes for broadband customers, robust sales of fibre products in Openreach, and growth in the consumer division. However, the company’s pre-tax profits dropped sharply by 31%, falling to £1.18 billion, despite a 2% rise in adjusted EBITDA, which reached £8.1 billion.
Openreach, UK’s primary broadband provider, is proposing legislations that’ll speed up fibre broadband installations in Multi-Dwelling Units (MDUs). This initiative is due to the lengthy authorizations processes, known as wayleaves, resulting in significant cost. However, critics argue this could infringe on property rights.
In a bold move to reshape the UK’s broadband landscape, VMO2, backed by shareholders Liberty Global and Telefónica, has announced the launch of a new fixed network company, ambitiously positioned as a direct competitor to BT’s Openreach. Dubbed NetCo for now, this venture aims to accelerate the adoption of full fibre broadband, offering a fresh financing framework and a potential platform for the consolidation of alternative network providers (altnets).
Allison Kirkby has officially taken the reins at BT, unveiling her first set of financial results as the company’s new chief executive. The figures, reflecting the final quarter of 2023, show a modest increase in revenue to £5.3 billion, up from £5.2 billion, with adjusted EBITDA holding steady at £2 billion. This performance was bolstered by positive developments within Openreach and the Consumer division, though slightly hampered by the challenges faced by BT Business, including cost issues and a downturn in legacy product sales.
With BT Group’s current CEO Philip Jansen’s departure on the horizon, the telecommunications industry is abuzz as Telia’s top-notch leader Allison Kirkby is slated to step into his shoes in 2024. Equipped with a celebrated career within the telecom sector and experience as a non-executive director at BT since 2019, Kirkby’s ascension is anxiously anticipated.
