BT adds TV customers, plans G.fast ultra high-speed broadband trial

UK telco BT added 45,000 TV customers in the quarter to December, which also saw it launch a TV everywhere service and a download to own service. However, a 15% increase in broadband and TV revenue failed to prevent a dip in BT’s overall revenues for its fiscal third quarter. 

Separately, BT has unveiled plans to roll out large-scale pilots this summer of ultrafast broadband with G.fast technology in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire and Gosforth, Newcastle. The company said it expected to deploy this technology at scale and it will help make ultrafast broadband speeds of up to 500Mbps available to most of the UK within a decade.

Consumer ARPU grew by 7% to £410 contributing to a 7% increase in consumer revenue overall to £1.083 billion.

BT added 119,000 retail broadband customers in the quarter, and added 209,000 fibre customers. About 35% of BT’s base of 2.7 million broadband customers are now on fibre.

BT revenues dropped by 3% to £4.475 billion for the quarter, while EB:ITDA increased by 2% to £1.567 billion.

“Our superfast fibre broadband network now covers around three-quarters of the UK.  BT has been at the forefront of fibre innovation and investment, from which all communications providers benefit.  We aim to keep it that way.  So today we’re announcing large-scale pilots this summer of ultrafast broadband with G.fast.  We now think we can deploy this technology at scale which will enable us to deliver ultrafast speeds of up to 500Mbps to most of the UK within a decade,” said CEO Gavin Patterson.

Patterson noted that BT’s plans to develop a full quad-play offering with the acquisition of EE were on track.

“Mobility is a key growth area for us.  We are making good progress on our due diligence in relation to a possible acquisition of EE and will make further announcements in due course.  In the meantime, our Consumer mobile launch plans remain on track,” he said.