BT Group plc Results for the First Quarter to 30 June 2011

LONDON, July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Ian Livingston, Chief Executive, commenting on the results, said:

"We continue to make progress towards delivering our financial, operational and growth goals.

"We grew profit before tax(1) by 20% at the same time as investing in the future of the business. Our share of DSL broadband net additions was 56%. Our super-fast broadband network has now passed over 5m premises and the customer base has almost trebled in the last six months. BT Global Services is making further progress in high growth economies and secured its largest ever contract in Latin America."

[Note:  for the full announcement, contact BT PR]

Key points:

• DSL broadband net additions were 251,000 in the quarter, of which BT's retail share was 141,000, or 56%
• Our copper line base grew for the third consecutive quarter
• BT Global Services' order intake was 1.6bn pounds Sterling in the quarter
• First quarter results add to our confidence in delivering our outlook

(1) Before specific items

Unless otherwise stated, the changes in results are year on year against the first quarter to 30 June 2010.

Unless otherwise stated, the references 2011 and 2012 are the financial years to 31 March 2011 and 2012, respectively, except in relation to our fibre roll-out plans which are based on calendar years.

The second quarter and half year results for 2012 are expected to be announced on 3 November 2011.

About BT

BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications services and solutions, serving customers in more than 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to our customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband and internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile products and services.  BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, BT Retail, BT Wholesale and Openreach.

In the year to 31 March 2011, BT Group's revenue was 20,076m pounds with profit before taxation of 1,717m pounds.

British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group.  BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York. 

For more information, visit www.btplc.com.

Forward-looking statements – caution advised

Certain statements in this results release are forward-looking and are made in reliance on the safe harbour provisions of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, without limitation, those concerning: outlook and progress towards delivering our financial, operational and growth goals; capital expenditure; BT Retail and Openreach performance; super-fast broadband roll-out and take up; Global Services' operating cash flow; and growth in our copper line base.

Although BT believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to have been correct. Because these statements involve risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

Factors that could cause differences between actual results and those implied by the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: material adverse changes in economic conditions in the markets served by BT; future regulatory actions and conditions in BT's operating areas, including competition from others; selection by BT and its lines of business of the appropriate trading and marketing models for its products and services; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates; technological innovations, including the cost of developing new products, networks and solutions and the need to increase expenditures for improving the quality of service; prolonged adverse weather conditions resulting in a material increase in overtime, staff or other costs; developments in the convergence of technologies; the anticipated benefits and advantages of new technologies, products and services not being realised; the underlying assumptions and estimates made in respect of major customer contracts proving unreliable; the aims of the BT Global Services restructuring programme not being achieved; the outcome of the Pensions Regulator's review; and general financial market conditions affecting BT's performance and ability to raise finance. BT undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE BT