BT Group reported steady progress on its fiber-first strategy in a trading update for the quarter and nine months to 31 December 2025, led by continued momentum in full-fibre deployment and rising FTTP adoption. The company said Openreach passed more than 1 million premises with FTTP for an eighth consecutive quarter, lifting the total footprint to 21.4 million premises, including 5.9 million in rural areas, keeping BT on track to reach 25 million premises by December 2026.
Demand for Openreach FTTP accelerated during the quarter, with net adds of 571,000 connections, up 21% year-on-year, taking total connected premises to 8.2 million and pushing take-up above 38%. Higher FTTP penetration and speed mix drove Openreach broadband ARPU up 4% to £16.8. Retail FTTP lines rose 32% year-on-year to 4.2 million, split between Consumer (3.9 million) and Business (0.3 million), while overall Openreach broadband lines declined by 210,000 as legacy copper losses continued to outweigh fiber gains.
BT said cost transformation and operational efficiency gains helped offset revenue pressures from legacy voice declines and lower equipment sales. Network energy usage fell 6% year-to-date, total labour resources dropped 7% to 108,000, and Openreach repair volumes declined 18%. Customer experience metrics improved, with group NPS reaching a record 31.4, while capital discipline remained focused on sustaining fiber build pace and preparing for a step-change in free cash flow over the coming years.
- FTTP footprint reached 21.4 million premises, with more than 1 million added for the eighth consecutive quarter
- Rural FTTP coverage expanded to 5.9 million premises
- Openreach FTTP net adds of 571,000, lifting total connections to 8.2 million and take-up above 38%
- Openreach broadband ARPU increased 4% year-on-year to £16.8
- Retail FTTP base grew 32% year-on-year to 4.2 million lines
- Openreach broadband line losses of 210,000 in the quarter; full-year losses now expected at ~850,000
- 5G base reached 14.3 million customers, with 5G+ coverage at 69% of the population
- Network energy usage down 6% year-to-date; total labour resources down 7%
Allison Kirkby, Chief Executive, said: “BT continues to deliver on its strategy – building and connecting the UK to the best next-generation networks at record pace, while accelerating our transformation. Our network leadership strengthened further in the quarter, with full fibre broadband now reaching more than 21 million homes and businesses.”
🌐 Analysis
BT’s sustained FTTP build rate keeps Openreach among the fastest fiber deployers in Europe, at a time when many incumbents are slowing capex or shifting to joint-venture models. Rising FTTP take-up and ARPU growth help offset ongoing copper line erosion, while competitors in the UK market continue to balance retail pricing pressure against wholesale fiber economics.
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