BT Technology
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Enterprise (B2B)BT Enterprise eyes 2023 for 5G lift-off
Spencer says better performing 5G standalone networks needed to kick‑start market. Operator inexperience in provisioning spectrum for private networks another brake on enterprise adoption. University Hospitals Birmingham and Belfast Harbour again hailed as BT’s main B2B 5G success stories.
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Strategy & Change
Networks joins Digital division to replace BT Technology
BT Technology was shuttered and replaced by two new divisions: BT Digital and BT Networks. Harmeen Mehta and Howard Watson at the respective helms as BT seeks transformation and modernisation. Fotis Karonis replacement named at BT Enterprise.
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Enterprise (B2B)
BT positions for post-‘cloud-first’ enterprise era
In collaboration with Dell/VMware, BT flags ability to securely “ repatriate ” apps back into private servers as enterprises retreat from ‘cloud‑first’ strategies .
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Enterprise (B2B)
BT Wholesale gets in on 5G game
Wholesale Mobile Connect , pitched as “ comprehensive c ell s ite c onnectivity portfolio for 5G deployment ”, slated for launch in 2021. Fully-managed service targeted at MNOs. Division embraces open RAN technology.
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Public Affairs
Ofcom gives BT fibre pricing freedom, but adds burdens
Openreach not to face caps or controls on national ultrafast pricing until 2031, as long as it is “ fair and reasonable ”. Locally-targeted pricing from Openreach prohibited as Ofcom seeks to protect emerging altnets. BT Consumer may lose some edge from 90 day notice period ...
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Network & Infrastructure
BT explores optical options after Moore, Shannon
Lord keen to leverage lower-cost data centre technologies for network deployment. Floats idea of ripping out ROADMs in core network and replacing them with routers and ZR optics pluggables. Lower prices through photonic integration seen as key. Promising trials with hollow-core and multi-core fibre.
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Public Affairs
BT braces as Ofcom fibre ruling looms
Ofcom to set out its fibre vision this week, and while BT may get pricing freedom, it may not get the longer‑term clarity it craves. Regulator’s steps to open up infrastructure competition may also disrupt the incumbent’s plans.
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Innovation (R&D)
BT shines light on AI in the East
Adastral Park R D facility takes centre stage in inaugural Artificial Intelligence Festival. East of England emerges as UK hub for AI research and innovation. BT asserts AI thought leadership and is UK’s top AI patent filer. Group’s use of AI aligns with telco peers, but ...
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Network & Infrastructure
DT lends experience as Openreach preps for all‑IP surge
Openreach drawing on minority owner’s learnings as it corrals the UK’s CPs towards digital voice services. Migration closely linked to fibre rollout, but timing may be dependent on CP retail plans as market joins BT in favouring IP voice services.
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Consumer (B2C)
BT going it alone with Shared Rural Network plans
O2, Three, and Vodafone reach agreement to construct more than 220 new 4G masts by 2024, taking partial ‘not‑spot’ coverage to 84% of UK landmass. Sites will cover areas BT/EE already reach, with “ historic investment ” seemingly respected, per Allera’s request. Frozen out of initial announcement, ...
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Partnerships & Alliances
Virgin Media’s foray into 5G signals end of BT era
All Virgin Media subscribers expected to leave BT network by early‑2022. BT highlights “ healthy pipeline ” of new MVNO business opportunities.
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Network & Infrastructure
Openreach NI fibre plan stirs up Project Stratum
Openreach Northern Ireland on track to exceed FY20–21 full‑fibre target. Overlap emerges with Openreach plan and publicly funded project. NI leads UK with highest full‑fibre availability.
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Financial & Performance
Budget 2021: BT benefits but won’t move investment dial
Chancellor Sunak eyes investment‑backed build‑back. Short term tax break to bolster BT infrastructure expansion. However, gains will be “ offset in later years ”, and no movement on BT’s number one priority — business rates relief.
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Network & Infrastructure
Howard Watson eyes 2027 as open RAN opportunity
Huawei 5G kit replacement in line with 2027 deadline an opportunity for urban commercial open RAN deployment. BT expects to stick with dual key vendor policy, but hopes to see more choice. Huawei kit still being rolled out as BT juggles network plans with government demands. ...
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Network & Infrastructure
MBNL embraces machine learning for predictive maintenance
JV working with Kortical, Blue Prism, and Greenhouse Intelligence. Algorithms predict mast cooling system failures to prevent overheating and outages.
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Partnerships & Alliances
BT taps OneWeb for rural coverage leg up
Talks confirmed, but nothing advanced . Back from brink, state-backed OneWeb offers BT space-based alternative to cable . 0.6% of UK households still without “ decent ” broadband connectivity, according to Ofcom .
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Network & Infrastructure
Canonical hails BT progress on 5G core
Deployment of fully cloud native core appears to be in full swing with open source developer.
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Partnerships & Alliances
BT activates go-to-market accelerator
Scheme provides immediate growth opportunities to participating scale‑ups. Operator supports UK‑wide sustainability push via provision of smart energy services. Possible application of green‑tech in healthcare sector being explored.
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Innovation (R&D)
Testbeds and Trials: many roads to 5G for BT
Two private networks in the West Midlands to be switched on, powering manufacturing modernisation in the region, underpinned by BT infrastructure. BT/EE powers two projects in state‑backed 5G Create funding call.
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Innovation (R&D)
Elsewhere in BT Technology: vyn joins Adastral
Martlesham explores possibilities of vyn .
