BT reported 3 percent increase in capital expenditure (Capex) to £3.9 billion due to increased Openreach investment in fixed network infrastructure during April-December quarter of 2022.
BT achieved record FTTP build of 810k premises passed in the quarter at an average build rate of 62k per week; 38 percent of 25 million FTTP build completed. Customer demand for FTTP extremely strong with orders up 51 percent with net adds of 324k in the quarter.
Broadband rental ARPU increased 7.6 percent. Openreach announced improved discounts for FTTP connection and rental charges, from April 2023, to support accelerated take up of FTTP. It announced the launch of 1.2Gbps and 1.8Gbps products.
BT achieved record quarterly growth in FTTP base in Consumer, up 155k to 1.6 million; 5G ready base of BT has reached 8.5 million.
“On full fibre, we’re building – and now connecting – like fury: 9.6 million premises reached to date, with 29 percent already connected, and 5G mobile network now reaches 60 percent of the UK population,” Philip Jansen, Chief Executive Officer of BT, said.
BT reported 1 percent drop in revenue to £15.6 billion as price hike and improved trading in Openreach and Consumer were offset by lower strategic equipment sales in Global, migration of a MVNO customer, removal of BT Sport revenue, and legacy product declines.
