BT Faces Mounting Broadband Losses Amid Fierce Competition and Slowed Housebuilding

BT has revealed a sharp acceleration in broadband customer losses, with its Openreach wholesale network shedding 242000 lines in the second quarter. This figure marks a rise from 169000 losses in the preceding quarter, a trend attributed largely to a downturn in housebuilding activity across the UK. Allison Kirkby, BT Group chief executive, noted that fewer new homes entering the market has resulted in stagnant broadband demand. Kirky expressed confidence in a rebound once government efforts rekindle growth in the housing sector, but she admitted the market has been flat or slightly declining for more than a year.

Intensifying competition from dozens of alternative networks has put additional pressure on BT’s traditional dominance. Sky, a major player in UK broadband, diversified access for its customers by partnering with Cityfibre’s network from July, directly challenging Openreach’s market share. Many smaller rivals have found themselves constrained by rising operating costs and higher interest rates, forcing a reduction of fibre rollouts and stalling their network penetration ambitions. Kirkby estimates that build rates from these challengers have dropped by 40 per cent year on year, a trend she expects will eventually benefit BT’s own customer take-up rates.

Despite these headwinds, BT continues to invest, having rolled out its full-fibre network to 20.3 million homes, with an ambitious end-of-2026 target of 25 million homes. Hitting 30 million premises by 2030, however, depends critically on a supportive regulatory landscape. Outgoing finance chief Simon Lowth insists that robust cashflow could be achieved without needing to reach this latter build target. Kirkby has pledged that normalised free cash flow will reach approximately £2 billion next year and rise to £3 billion by the end of the decade, up from this year’s £1.5 billion figure.

Group revenue declined 3 per cent to £9.8 billion in the first half, while adjusted earnings held steady at £4.1 billion, reflecting a continued drive for cost reductions. Nearly 4300 jobs were cut over the past six months as the company moves towards a long-term goal of making up to 55000 roles redundant by 2030. The consumer division was hit by a 3 per cent drop in service revenues, as customers increasingly hold onto devices longer due to high handset prices and lack of innovation. Since its privatisation in 1984, BT has expanded its horizons including the ownership of EE mobile and running TNT Sports in a joint venture with Warner Bros Discovery. Recent months saw BT unify its consumer operations under the EE brand. BT shares have climbed 26 per cent this year, most recently rising 28 per cent to 185p.