BT boss refuses to rule out job cuts after ‘unprecedented’ Talktalk rescue Telecoms BT chief executive Allison Kirkby has refused to rule out redundancies among 900 Talktalk employees joining the telecoms giant, defending its controversial takeover of the broadband provider as an “unprecedented” rescue. The FTSE 100 boss told reporters she could not guarantee the jobs would be protected while the deal remained under regulatory review, as BT [...]
BT slashes workforce as Talktalk takeover adds to turnaround challenge Telecoms BT has cut its workforce by 11 per cent as boss Allison Kirkby presses ahead with an overhaul of the telecoms giant, just weeks after rescuing struggling rival Talktalk from administration. The cost-cutting drive helped push pre-tax profits up 12 per cent to £1.1bn in the six months to September, despite revenue growing just one [...]
Why Virgin Media O2 is cutting jobs and retreating from fibre Telecoms Virgin Media O2’s decision to cut thousands of jobs and halt further fibre upgrades marks quite the retreat for a company once positioned as BT’s biggest challenger, writes Saskia Koopman. Five years after Virgin Media and O2 merged to create a £31bn telecoms giant, VMO2 is battling falling revenues, ongoing customer losses and over £22bn [...]
BT launches AI cyber defence service as UK faces growing attack threat October 13, 2026 BT is stepping up its efforts to tackle AI-powered cyber attacks through its partnership with Microsoft, as British businesses face mounting pressure to shield themselves against increasingly sophisticated threats. The telecoms giant is seeking to capitalise on growing demand for outsourced cyber security, as companies struggle to keep pace with attacks that are becoming faster [...]
VodafoneThree raises cost-cutting target to £1bn after merger October 8, 2026 Vodafone has hiked its UK cost-saving target to £1bn a year as the telecoms giant looks to boost profits following its merger with Three. The FTSE 100 company said on Thursday it now expects VodafoneThree to deliver £1bn in annual savings by 2032, up from its previous target of £700m by 2030. The upgraded target [...]
Virgin Media takes aim at ‘stitch up’ BT rescue of Talktalk October 5, 2026 Virgin Media has hit out at BT’s rescue of Talktalk as a “stitch up”, warning the deal could further strengthen its rival’s grip on Britain’s broadband market. BT agreed on Monday to acquire debt-laden Talktalk and its wholesale arm PlatformX Communications out of administration, safeguarding services for 1.5 million retail customers and one million wholesale [...]
Government intervenes as BT inks deal to rescue embattled Talktalk October 5, 2026 Broadband giant BT has agreed to snap up embattled telecommunications firm Talktalk in a move that has prompted the government to weigh in. The FTSE 100 group said on Monday it had acquired Talktalk and its wholesale arm PlatformX Communications (PXC) out of administration on a debt-free basis. The deal, for an undisclosed sum, is [...]
Openreach eyes further fibre discounts after Ofcom blocks price cut September 28, 2026 Openreach is considering further targeted fibre discounts over the next five years after Ofcom blocked its most aggressive attempt to cut wholesale prices, the BT-owned network told City AM. The broadband giant said it remained open to competition in different parts of the country after the regulator approved a separate £50 rebate for new full-fibre [...]
BT braces for loss of 800,000 customers as it banks on fibre to keep turnaround ‘on track’ July 23, 2026 BT stuck to its cash targets despite another quarter of flat sales and falling profit, as the telecoms giant pointed to growing demand for its fibre network. The FTSE 100 firm held guidance for around £2bn of free cash flow this year after revenue edged little changed to £4.3bn in the first quarter. Pre-tax profit [...]
As it happened: Stocks slip as oil hits $100 following Houthi attacks on tankers July 23, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM FTSE 100 liveblog. Stocks slipped on Thursday morning as oil surged back to $100 per barrel for the first time since May. Brent crude barrelled up after the Iran-backed Houthis claimed to have attacked two Saudi Arabian oil tankers in the Red Sea. The US last night launched its [...]