BT Seeks Partners to Revive Its International Business

BT Group has quietly sounded out AT\&T and Orange as potential partners for its international arm, a unit that reportedly has been underperforming and contributing little to BT’s bottom line.
Under CEO Allison Kirkby’s ambitious transformation agenda, the FTSE‑100 firm is now exploring a partial stake sale to revitalize business profits.

Once a proud global operator serving around 180 countries, BT’s international division now accounts for approximately 11% of group revenue, equating to around £2.4 billion, yet has lagged behind the booming UK business in fibre and mobile

Analysts say the slump reflects shifting demand toward cloud services and digital infrastructure closer to home, leaving the legacy division looking outdated.

According to multiple published sources, so far, discussions with AT\&T and Orange are in the very early stages. BT has confirmed it's “keeping everything open,” and exploring “a range of possibilities,” without committing to any one deal. This broadly open message leaves room for options including joint ventures, carve‑outs, or even full sales.

The move dovetails neatly with Kirkby’s refocus strategy by cutting £3 billion in costs by 2029, streamlining its UK-centric operations, and disinvesting non-core assets such as Irish wholesale and data-centre businesses.

Bas Burger, who leads the Business division, will take charge of any standalone international unit as BT weighs the path ahead. The stakes are significant: a strategic tie‑up could inject new capital, enhance service capabilities, and give BT a chance to offload long-term contracts that have stuck like anchors.

As BT pursues partnerships with AT\&T, Orange, and possibly others, investors are watching closely. Kirkby’s strategy to prune global underperformance and sharpen domestic strength has already driven a rise in share price. A successful deal could further validate the turnaround and reinforce BT’s evolution into a leaner, UK-focused powerhouse.