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BT will set up its international business as a new standalone unit.<\/p>\n
As reported by the Financial Times<\/a> today (May 15), the new division is set to operate separately from BT’s UK business.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The division will be made up of more than 8,000 staff, per a source familiar with the matter quoted by the FT.<\/p>\n An internal memo was apparently sent to staff today stating that BT’s decision to carve out its international unit as a standalone business gives the company \u201cthe best chance of success\u201d in both markets at home and abroad.\u00a0<\/p>\n The publication adds that the international unit would be headed by former BT Business chief Bas Burger.<\/p>\n BT has been considering the future of its international business for some time, having previously outlined plans to optimize<\/a> it.<\/p>\n In March, Bloomberg<\/a> reported that BT approached AT&T and Orange<\/a> about possible partnerships, including a tie-up or potential stake sale of the unit.<\/p>\n BT CEO Allison Kirkby instead wants to focus on BT’s domestic telecoms and broadband opportunities, as the business looks to streamline. Last month, the company agreed to sell its Italian unit<\/a> to Retelit.<\/p>\n Kirkby outlined plans last year to save a further \u00a33 billion ($3.98bn) in costs by the end of 2029.<\/p>\n Part of her turnaround strategy has been to focus heavily on the company’s home market in the UK.<\/p>\n In 2023, BT announced plans to cut 55,000 jobs<\/a> by the end of the decade, affecting its operations both in the UK and globally. This is set to reduce headcount at the company to 75,000 by 2030 from 130,000.<\/p>\n Earlier this year, the company agreed a deal to sell its Irish wholesale and enterprise<\/a> unit to Cordiant subsidiary Speed Fibre Group.<\/p>\n Just before Christmas, Equinix agreed to acquire BT Group’s Irish data center business for \u20ac59 million ($67.3m)<\/a>, a deal expected to be completed during the first half of this year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n