BT lifts profit target after strong H1

BT has improved its profit outlook for the current financial year as it hailed a "strong operating performance" despite the impact of the pandemic.

The telecoms giant said the quality of its products and services is improving. Picture: BT.

The telecoms giant increased the lower end of its earnings target for the year to £7.3 billion despite reporting a decline over the past six months.

It told investors that adjusted earnings for the period to September 30 fell by 5 per cent to £3.7bn after a drop in revenue, although this was partly offset by sports rights rebates.

Revenue for the half year tumbled by 8 per cent to £10.6bn, which it said was primarily caused by lower BT Sport sales and reduced business activity in its enterprise units.

The group earlier this year said its key Glasgow Clydeside office will undergo a major refurbishment. Picture: BT.

BT also said it was boosted by a strong expansion of fibre to the premises (FTTP) orders through its Openreach digital network business, reporting a "strong increase" in the second quarter.

Chief executive Philip Jansen said: "BT delivered financial results in line with expectations for the first half of the year, thanks to strong operational performance during exceptional circumstances.

"Customer demand during the pandemic has shown how critical our networks have become, and our significant network investments have helped us double the number of Openreach's FTTP orders compared to this time last year and have seen our leading 5G network expand to 112 towns and cities across the UK.

"We continue to invest to make BT more competitive and I'm pleased to see the quality of our products and services improving. At the same time, we are firmly on track with the delivery of our modernisation programme and have delivered £352 million in cost savings in the first half of the year."

BT said cost savings are ahead of its plan to save £2bn over the next five years.

Reasonable

William Ryder, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said that despite hurdles, strong cost control and demand “has given management the confidence to upgrade guidance – so, all things considered, these are some reasonable results from BT”.

The update comes a day after BT agreed a deal with Ericsson for the Swedish firm to supply equipment for its 5G network in major cities across the UK –including Edinburgh.

Ryder added: “There are still challenges ahead and 5G looks like it will cost a fortune, but the internet is now an essential service.”

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