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BT Group said its EE network has installed a new mobile mast on the Scottish island of Islay to eliminate a long-standing mobile coverage gap and improve connectivity for residents, businesses and visitors.

The mast, built as part of the UK’s Shared Rural Network programme, now provides 4G coverage across several communities and about 14 kilometres of roads, including areas previously without any mobile signal. The site also improves support for emergency services, enhances safety in remote areas and helps local businesses benefit from better digital connectivity.

BT said the project is part of broader efforts to expand coverage in remote regions, noting that its network now provides reliable mobile coverage across more than 90% of the UK landmass. The new infrastructure is expected to support tourism and local economic activity on the island, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
BT Group plc has expanded its core network partnership with Ericsson to enhance 5G Standalone services for UK businesses.

The renewed agreement builds on Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G Core deployment on BT’s Network Cloud and introduces two new capabilities: the Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF) and the Network Exposure Function (NEF). NSSF enables dynamic, real-time management of network slices, allowing traffic to be intelligently redistributed to maintain consistent performance for critical applications. NEF allows businesses and developers to securely access selected network capabilities through standardised APIs, supporting programmable, application-aware connectivity.

BT said the enhancements will help deliver more predictable, secure and flexible 5G services, supporting use cases such as mission-critical healthcare applications and advanced logistics solutions. The upgrade also strengthens BT’s long-standing collaboration with Ericsson across core and radio access networks, positioning the group to meet rising demand for differentiated, API-enabled network services in the UK.
BT Group reported a solid trading update for the quarter and nine months to 31 December 2025, highlighting continued progress in network rollout, customer growth and cost transformation, while reaffirming full-year guidance.

BT said it passed more than one million premises with full-fibre broadband (FTTP) for the eighth consecutive quarter, taking its FTTP footprint to 21.4 million premises, including 5.9 million in rural areas. Openreach delivered record FTTP net adds of 571,000, lifting total connected premises to 8.2 million and pushing the take-up rate above 38%. The group remains on track to reach 25 million premises by December 2026.

Mobile performance remained strong, with EE retaining its position as the UK’s best network across multiple independent benchmarks. The 5G customer base rose 10% year-on-year to 14.3 million, while 5G+ coverage expanded to 69% of the population. Consumer divisions continued to add customers across broadband, postpaid mobile and TV, while customer satisfaction reached a record high.

Financially, Q3 reported and adjusted revenue fell 4% year-on-year to £5.0 billion, reflecting service revenue pressure, lower equipment sales and the impact of completed international disposals. Adjusted EBITDA declined 1% to £2.1 billion, with cost savings largely offsetting lower revenue. Profit before tax dropped to £183 million, mainly due to losses from the Sports joint venture.

BT confirmed it remains on track to meet its full-year outlook, including a cash flow inflection to around £2.0 billion next year and approximately £3.0 billion by the end of the decade, supported by ongoing transformation and network investment.
BT Group has announced a new partnership with easyJet to deliver mobile connectivity across the airline’s European network, linking flight crews, aircraft and airports in real time.

Under the agreement, BT will provide around 23,000 mobile connections via EE’s network to support easyJet’s operations in 35 countries and more than 150 airports. The connectivity will enable pilots and cabin crew to access flight information and training on the move, while also supporting smart customer messaging, connected iPads for flight operations, smartphones, aircraft phones and other work devices.

All devices will be equipped with eSIM technology, allowing easyJet to manage connectivity remotely, switch networks across borders more efficiently and reduce reliance on physical SIM cards. BT said the solution is designed to improve security, simplify logistics and support easyJet’s large-scale, multi-country operations.
BT Group has completed the sale of its U.S. government contracting subsidiary, BT Federal Inc., to 22nd Century Technologies, marking another step in BT’s strategy to simplify its portfolio and sharpen its focus on the UK market and core international capabilities.

Following the transaction, BT Federal will operate as 22nd Century Networks, a wholly owned subsidiary of 22nd Century Technologies. The acquisition expands 22nd Century Technologies’ managed network services footprint across all 50 U.S. states and strengthens its ability to deliver secure, end-to-end network solutions for federal agencies.

For BT, the divestment supports its ongoing transformation and allows BT International, now operating as a standalone unit, to concentrate on becoming a global leader in secure multi-cloud connectivity for multinational customers. BT confirmed it will maintain a strong U.S. presence through its international operations, with offices and employees in New York, Dallas and Reston. The transaction has been cleared by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, and both companies stated that operations will continue without immediate disruption for employees or customers.
EE Launches Anti-Scam Christmas Campaign with Debrett’s and Grime Gran

EE, part of BT Group, has partnered with Debrett’s and internet personality Grime Gran to help people confidently shut down scammers during the Christmas period. The “Mind Your Manners” campaign reframes British politeness for the digital age, emphasizing that ending suspicious calls or messages is responsible, not rude. EE highlighted its network-level protections, which block millions of scam calls, texts, and malicious websites daily, alongside public education to reduce fraud risks during the festive season.

Source: BT Group / EE press release, 18 December 2025
BT Group Reports Stable Half-Year Results, Raises Interim Dividend

BT Group reaffirmed its full-year outlook for FY26 as it reported steady first-half performance supported by record fibre and mobile network expansion. Group revenue came in at £9.8 billion, down 3% year-on-year due to legacy voice declines and lower handset sales, while adjusted EBITDA remained flat at £4.1 billion, with cost transformation savings offsetting higher labour and energy costs.

Openreach continued its rapid fibre rollout, adding 2.2 million premises in six months to reach a total footprint of 20.3 million, including 5.5 million in rural areas. Demand remained strong with 1.1 million net fibre additions, bringing total connections to 7.6 million and take-up to 38%. The EE mobile network expanded its 5G+ standalone coverage to 66% of the UK population, with plans to reach 99% by FY2030.

CEO Allison Kirkby said BT’s UK-focused transformation is progressing ahead of schedule: “We’re building the UK’s digital backbone, connecting the country like no one else and accelerating our transformation.” She reaffirmed the group’s cash flow targets of around £2 billion in FY27 and £3 billion by the end of the decade.

BT declared an interim dividend of 2.45 pence per share, up 2% from last year. The company maintained its FY26 guidance, targeting adjusted revenue of around £20 billion, EBITDA of £8.2–£8.3 billion, and capital expenditure of approximately £5 billion excluding spectrum costs.