BT Group

BT Group plc, formerly known as British Telecom, is one of the largest telecommunications groups in the United Kingdom. It provides fixed and mobile communications, broadband access, IT services, network infrastructure and solutions for businesses and government organisations.

History of BT Group

BT Group plc, or British Telecom, is one of the oldest and largest telecommunications companies in the United Kingdom. The history of BT Group dates back to the 19th century, when the first telegraph company in the United Kingdom, the Electric Telegraph Company, was founded in 1846. Later, telecommunications services came under the control of the General Post Office (GPO), which combined electronic mail and telephone communications.

In 1969, the GPO was transformed into the state-owned Post Office Corporation, and in 1980, its telecommunications division was renamed British Telecom. In 1984, the company became one of the first state-owned telecommunications organisations to be privatised under Margaret Thatcher's government. It was from this moment that BT began its journey as a private company on the stock market.

In 2001, a major restructuring took place, during which a new legal entity, BT Group plc, was created. This included the main operating assets. From that moment on, the company began operating under a new name, while retaining its previous heritage and infrastructure.

BT Group has played a key role in the development of the UK's telecommunications infrastructure, including the introduction of broadband internet, digital telephony and modern network solutions for business and the public sector.

Who owns BT Group?

The Chief Executive Officer is Allison Kirkby.

BT Group is a public company listed on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BT.A. The company is owned by private and institutional investors, including pension funds, investment companies, banks and private shareholders.

The most significant shareholdings are held by international funds such as BlackRock, Norges Bank, Legal & General Group, as well as UK pension and investment trusts. In 2023–2024, there were reports of increased interest from international investors, including individuals and funds from India and France. However, the ownership structure is constantly changing depending on trading on the stock exchange.

BT Group Headquarters

BT Group's head office is located in the UK at 1 Braham Street, London, E1 8EE, United Kingdom. This is the contact for the modern office in the Whitechapel area. It was opened after the company moved from the historic BT Centre building in 2021. The new headquarters complex was designed with environmental standards and the digital transformation of business processes in mind. It serves not only an administrative but also a strategic function, housing the IT management, corporate communications, investment projects and digital development departments.

What does BT Group do?

BT Group is a diversified telecommunications and technology company. It provides services to both private users and corporate and government customers. Its main areas of activity include:

• Fixed and mobile communications. Provision of voice, text messaging and mobile internet services via its own networks.
• Broadband internet and television. Internet access via DSL, VDSL and fibre optic technologies, digital TV and streaming services.
• IT services and consulting, including cybersecurity. Cloud solutions, data storage and transfer, digital transformation.
• Network infrastructure. Provision of wholesale access to other operators, construction and maintenance of the national communications network.
• Government and business solutions. Communications for emergency services, municipalities, schools, universities and large corporations.

BT is actively investing in digitalisation, the development of 5G networks, and FTTP (fibre to the home) infrastructure, striving to provide high-speed internet throughout the UK.

BT Group subsidiaries

BT Group manages a number of subsidiary brands and business units. This well-balanced structure allows BT to compete effectively in various segments, from the mass market to B2B services and the public sector. Among its subsidiaries are:

1. Openreach. The division responsible for building and maintaining fixed telecommunications infrastructure (cables, equipment, networks). It provides services to all operators on equal terms.
2. EE Limited. A mobile operator providing 4G and 5G services. It is the largest mobile operator in the UK. It joined BT in 2016.
3. Plusnet. An internet service provider with a separate brand focused on affordable and reliable offerings for residential customers.
4. BT Business. A corporate division serving small and medium-sized businesses, as well as large enterprises and government agencies.
5. BT Global / BT Wholesale. Provides international telecoms and IT services, as well as wholesale access to other telecoms operators.

BT Group: investor relations

BT Group actively engages with investors through regular reporting, presentations, online webinars and participation in investment forums. The following are available on the official BT website:

• annual and quarterly reports;
• presentations of strategic plans;
• reports on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues;
• dividend policies and payments;
• reports on shareholder meetings.

The company adheres to the principles of transparency, responsible corporate governance and a long-term strategy of creating shareholder value. In its annual report for FY 2024, BT highlights such priority areas as network modernisation, improving the customer experience and employee careers. At the same time, it maintains a stable dividend policy and debt control.

BT Group Annual Report and Results

BT Group publishes detailed financial statements annually, reflecting key performance indicators, including revenue, profit, operating expenses, free cash flow, and profitability. In the 2024 financial year, the company continued to implement its strategy of transformation, digitalisation, and infrastructure and sports development.

BT Group maintains stable revenue and demonstrates moderate growth in return on capital employed (ROCE), reflecting the efficiency of its investments and potential. The increase in ROCE to 8.5% in FY 2024 is due to internal optimisations and a reduction in operating costs.

BT Group shares

BT Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol BT.A and is included in the FTSE 100 index. The company's shares are attractive to investors focused on dividend yield as well as long-term capital growth.

The average price of BT Group shares by year (2020–2024) is shown in the table below:

BT Group's share performance reflects both internal challenges (costs, restructuring, job cuts) and external factors (inflation, stock market volatility). Despite the decline in share prices in 2024, the company retains its status as a dividend asset and continues to attract interest from institutional investors thanks to its large infrastructure programme.

BT Group dividends

BT Group pursues a consistent dividend policy focused on providing sustainable returns to shareholders while maintaining financial stability and investing in business development. The company strives to maintain a balance between shareholder returns and capital investment in telecommunications infrastructure.

In recent years, BT Group has paid semi-annual dividends in the form of an interim dividend. This is usually announced in the autumn for the first half of the financial year. The final dividend is paid after the annual report is approved in the spring, reflecting the news.

According to the official report, BT Group paid:

• Interim dividend: 2.31 pence per share.
• Final dividend: 5.69 pence per share.
• Total dividend for the year: 8.0 pence per share.

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