BT Cuts 7,731 Jobs as Half-Year Profit Rises and Savings Target Grows

BT Group's workforce shrank by 7,731 to about 90,000 over the half-year, even as pre-tax profit climbed 12 percent to 1.1 billion pounds. Revenue edged up one percent to roughly 8.8 billion pounds and adjusted EBITDA rose one percent to 4.1 billion, with shares rising as much as six percent to a five-year high.

The telecoms giant raised its cost-savings target from three billion pounds by 2029 to 3.7 billion by 2030, at a cost of about 1.4 billion. BT expects headcount to fall to between 75,000 and 80,000 by decade's end and estimates artificial intelligence could replace the equivalent of about 10,000 roles.

Most recent cuts fell at Openreach, which now passes 24.1 million premises against a target of 25 million by the end of 2026. BT's international division is moving into a joint venture with Verizon, and the CMA is reviewing its purchase of TalkTalk's telecoms businesses. Chief executive Allison Kirkby's 2025 pay was 5.6 million pounds.