BT Group
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Strategy & ChangeCWU plots against BT transformation plans
Union’s Bonfire Night declaration promises fireworks as BT attempts to simplify processes linked to redundancies. BT management under opposing pressure from investors to move more quickly to reduce headcount.
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Financial & Performance
BT cash to take a hit on Brexit and Huexit stockpiling
An improved earnings forecast at BT is not expected to generate more cash as the operator buys up Huawei gear ahead of the 5G ban. Ericsson highlights its own efforts to ensure it can meet BT’s needs in uncertain times ahead.
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Public Affairs
TalkTalk stiffens resistance to Openreach network pricing
Alternative network provider is waging an ongoing war with Openreach over wholesale fees.
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Suppliers & SCM
BT partner Toshiba bullish on quantum security (eventually)
Japanese vendor takes long-term view on QKD market, anticipating a hefty 25% share and $3bn revenue by 2030.
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Strategy & Change
Elsewhere in BT Technology: open source on the wishlist
Calls for greater open source collaboration, BT breaking technology silos with ‘ speed-dating ’, persistent Emotet threat flagged.
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Suppliers & SCM
Brexit and COVID: BT’s twin supply chain headaches
Group continuing to scrutinise status of 450 key partners, amid logistical and financial turmoil wrought by pandemic. Spread of critical partners under consideration to create greater resilience post- coronavirus and split from EU. Telcos, traditionally known for squeezing suppliers to the max, now focused on keeping ...
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Strategy & Change
Openreach fine as is — Lowth
BT CFO maintains Openreach contribution to the Group is undervalued, but that greater clarity and continued messaging on the progress of the fibre rollout could change perceptions. With all physical network assets tied to the BT pension and Openreach now effectively a services business, any attempt to bring ...
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M&A
MBNL’s future up in air as Three ponders mast sale
Both MBNL and Cornerstone, UK MNOs’ two tower joint ventures, appear on the verge of an ownership revamp. Three exit could tie with moves by CK Hutchison to establish a separate TowerCo.
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Public Affairs
TalkTalk takes pot shot at Openreach FTTP pricing
CEO calls for longer-term, discounted full‑fibre wholesale deals. Harrison claims BT’s alleged fears of breaching UK competition rules is “ red herring ”, while incumbent maintains it needs to appease all stakeholders.
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Network & Infrastructure
BT fires another warning shot over fibre roadblocks
Without the right “ policy, legislative and fiscal enablers ”, BT warns full-fibre nationwide coverage will not happen until 2033. Government target for universal coverage of “ Gigabit-capable broadband ” is 2025.
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Network & Infrastructure
BT customer quantum trial underway using commercial product
BT highlights ability to plug QKD into OSA Filter Connect , a commercial WDM-based product provided by Openreach. Extensive commercial deployment of QKD in BT’s metro and core networks still at least five years away, however.
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Operations
BT–EE meld: more execs become part of the mothership
BT’s de‑duplication effort accelerates with more than two thirds of EE’s operations staff being swallowed up by its parent Group since April 2019.
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Innovation (R&D)
BT’s Adastral Park testing use-cases for EU’s 5G-VINNI project
Project tests 5G for agile media production in broadcasting. BT’s Adastral Park is a main test facility for EU-funded 5G-VINNI project.
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Partnerships & Alliances
BT takes lead on new TIP OpenRAN subgroup
Influential BT researcher in a pivotal role between operators, technologists, and standards groups on Open RAN implementation.
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Operations
BT continues to mull post-COVID‑19 working options
Jansen seeks a return to normality. Changes to practices are afoot, however: Work Your Way flexible working initiative launched; distributed working pros and cons explored.
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Financial & Performance
BT Group Q1 FY20–21
First full COVID-19 quarter sees a sharp decline in revenue and EBITDA. Outflow of cash as network investment continues. Group CEO Jansen claims mists are clearing, enabling Group to issue guidance for the year — although BT anticipates little improvement until 2021. Openreach progress is ...
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Analysis
Elsewhere in BT Consumer: Brexit prep and ESN progress
Brexit preparations; fairer price commitments; ESN deployment progress.
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Analysis
Elsewhere in Openreach: FTTP progress trumpeted
Fibre rolls past three million; weather and robbers cause disruption; fleet goes electric.
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Analysis
Elsewhere in BT Enterprise: MedTech roll outs and a win with Mavenir
BT expands R D efforts with NHSX, and adds Medic Bleep to its NHS offering. Enterprise expands its connected worker portfolio with Onsight from Librestream.
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Network & Infrastructure
BT champions DLT to help provision 5G private networks
Strong Russian flavour to project, with Rostelecom as Catalyst co‑champion, and suppliers Nexign, RTC ARGUS among participants. Catalyst to underpin a network resource marketplace for Industry 4.0 . Federated DLT Marketplace to meld with two other BT‑supported TM Forum programmes, forming “ Mega ...
