In the future, your calls should never drop and your journeys – however remote – are never out of reach of a connection. This was the premise of our network vision, launched a year ago, which outlined how we will get there:

• By 2023, new smart core technology powering our network,
• By 2025, 4,500 square miles of new rural mobile coverage,
• And by 2028, a 5G connection possible anywhere in the UK.

Our vision remains one-of-its-kind, underpinned by BT’s unique ability to fuse the best of mobile, Wi-Fi and fibre through an intelligent single core. No other network has the combination of scale, pedigree, or expertise to achieve it.  

So how are we doing?

An unbeatable 5G network

We’ve smashed our first target on 5G, becoming the first operator to pass 50% of the UK’s population. We’re growing further, adding new sites every day while making sure that EE’s 5G has the mark of quality too. We’re also bolstering 5G in the nation’s busiest spaces: tourist hotspots, stadiums and university campuses. EE customers at Glastonbury took for granted their ability to upload their memories – but ask friends on other networks whether they had the same experience?

Lift the bonnet and you’ll see the real power of the network. Our new 5G core is now launched and will be fully live in 2023, as planned. We’ve successfully migrated the first customers on to it, a critical milestone. By embedding both our mobile and fixed core networks in BT’s private network cloud, we will deliver ever better customer experiences. These changes are critical to fusing the power of multiple networks and critical for the future launch of 5G standalone services.

Enhancing our award-winning 4G network

Want to coach table tennis over video? That’s just one of the thousands of ways that customers are innovating over our expanding 4G network.

4G is the bedrock of our current network and we’ll pass 90% of UK geography within a few years. We’re now at 86% and adding miles upon miles of it every month. In fact, we’ve expanded our coverage by more than 1,000 square miles over the past twelve months, through hundreds of new masts and over 4,000 upgraded sites. We’re partnering on many of these, working with national Governments to deliver 4G in places that have never before been connected. We’re on 27 of the 28 masts in Scotland’s 4G infill programme for example. And best of all, on any new site we build, other networks can apply to share it.

Industry leading fibre deployments

As a business, we’ll shortly update how many people are now able to take advantage of the £15bn investment we’re making into the gold standard of fixed connections - full fibre. Across the UK, demand for connectivity is rising: for access to it, for speed on it, for reliability within it and for performance over it. Fibre is the solution and we’re literally embedding our future connectivity throughout the highways and byways of Britain. Week in, week out. Best of all, expanding fibre strengthens our mobile network. Nearly 4,500 of our mobile sites now connect over 10Gb fibre connections, giving them ‘best in class’ performance, now and into the future.

Remaining the most reliable

Our customers want to know their phone will just work when they pick it up and that’s where we continue to lead the pack. Many networks are built to deliver peak speeds in a few areas. Ours is built to deliver peak performance more widely – delivering industry leading speeds to customers beyond just the busiest cities.

We’re resilient too. Last week, as the UK baked in record temperatures our infrastructure kept its cool. Our data centres, exchanges, routers and major mobile sites continued connecting customers’ calls - in some cases delivering life-saving connections – and our teams worked quickly to tackle any local issues where they arose. Like many, I’m concerned by our changing climate, but I’m also extremely proud of how BT’s infrastructure stood up to a fierce test.

No doubt we’ll face more challenges this year but we’ll always strive to keep everyone connected. Our eyes are on the promises we made last year, delivering a seamless connection wherever its needed, fueling innovation and being a major contributor to the UK’s economic growth.

We’re connecting for good and we’re just getting started.

As more companies have relied on their digital presence to survive during the Covid-19 pandemic, and with record numbers of start-ups springing up, the need for investment in new technologies such as full fibre and 5G has grown. Working with its infrastructure partner Openreach, BT’s Enterprise business will focus on bringing full fibre to businesses across Manchester, including 5,900 micro businesses initially. These businesses will be able to access BT’s fastest full fibre speeds yet – up to 900Mbps – a tripling of the speeds previously available. BT’s Enterprise business expects more of Manchester’s businesses to benefit from these full fibre speeds over time as Openreach continues to expand its fibre footprint across the country.

Recent research by BT has found that more than 70 per cent of small firms in Manchester are confident in the success of their business as the lockdown restrictions lift. And with more than 11,000 businesses set up in Manchester during 2020, the rise of digital shopkeepers and freelancers mean that an increasing number are running their business from home.

BT is so convinced by the high-growth potential of micro-businesses and start ups in Manchester and nationally - and their role in powering the post pandemic recovery - that it has carved out a new SoHo (Small/Single office, Home office) unit to focus on their digital and connectivity needs. As well as delivering business-grade connections which offer value for money and a premium customer service experience, BT will launch a new suite of services and apps to help the UK’s smallest and fledgling firms grow by building stronger digital foundations. These new services could include stronger cyber security measures, free digital skills training and new digital advertising tools, for example.

Together with the launch of the UK’s first ‘unbreakable’ Wi-Fi for micro-businesses - delivering guaranteed coverage across the workplace, full fibre speeds and free tech expert support - the new unit will help the UK’s smallest firms and start-ups to rebuild and get set for growth.

Sarah Walker, BT Enterprise business director for the North, said: “By setting up this new unit we’re investing in the future of Manchester’s smallest firms and start-ups which are the lifeblood of the local economy. I’m really proud that we’re creating this new unit at a time when their success has never been more important in securing the city’s future as it rebuilds after the toughest economic crisis in a generation.

“In addition, we’re tripling the speed of full fibre broadband for businesses in Manchester, with nearly 5,900 of the city’s smallest firms now able to access speeds of up to 900Mbps through BT. The availability of our fastest business broadband speeds yet will grow over time as Openreach continues to expand its full fibre footprint across the city.”

A recent survey carried out by BT found that just under a quarter of small businesses in Manchester (21 per cent) planned to move more of their operations online following lockdown restrictions easing; while 61 per cent would be more likely to adopt new technologies if they knew the technology industry provided training or support.

BT’s new SoHo business unit will provide dedicated support for small and micro-businesses buying its new Halo for business broadband bundles, with free expert set-up of equipment and advanced UK-based remote IT support. A 4G back-up service will also be offered if there’s a problem with the fixed line, to ensure uninterrupted business connectivity.

As part of its bid to kick start the growth of UK micro-businesses and start-ups, BT is also trialling new online tools which will make it easier for them to run their own digital advertising campaigns.

BT’s new online tools are designed to remove some of the biggest barriers which are preventing the UK’s smallest companies from using digital advertising to boost their online presence and reach new customers. The new service is currently being trialled with customers and BT will share more details over the coming weeks.

The launch of the new SoHo business unit and the availability of new business broadband and digital marketing tools is further evidence of BT’s support for the UK’s small businesses. It builds on BT’s Small Business Support Scheme, a broad package of measures launched last Summer to help small businesses thrive during and beyond the pandemic, by boosting their connectivity, cashflow and confidence.

Businesses can find out more about the full fibre offers available from BT by visiting: https://business.bt.com/products/broadband-and-internet/full-fibre/

As more companies have relied on their digital presence to survive during the Covid-19 pandemic, and with record numbers of start-ups springing up, the need for investment in new technologies such as full fibre and 5G has grown. Working with its infrastructure partner Openreach, BT’s Enterprise business will focus on bringing full fibre to businesses across Birmingham, including 8,500 micro businesses initially. These businesses will be able to access BT’s fastest full fibre speeds yet – up to 900Mbps – a tripling of the speeds previously available. BT’s Enterprise business expects more of Birmingham’s businesses to benefit from these full fibre speeds over time as Openreach continues to expand its fibre footprint across the country.

Recent research by BT has found that more than 70 per cent of small firms in Birmingham are confident in the success of their business as the lockdown restrictions lift. And with more than 18,000 businesses set up in Birmingham during 2020, the rise of digital shopkeepers and freelancers mean that an increasing number are running their business from home.

BT is so convinced by the high-growth potential of micro-businesses and start ups in Birmingham and nationally - and their role in powering the post pandemic recovery - that it has carved out a new SoHo (Small/Single office, Home office) unit to focus on their digital and connectivity needs. As well as delivering business-grade connections which offer value for money and a premium customer service experience, BT will launch a new suite of services and apps to help the UK’s smallest and fledgling firms grow by building stronger digital foundations. These new services could include stronger cyber security measures, free digital skills training and new digital advertising tools, for example.

Together with the launch of the UK’s first ‘unbreakable’ Wi-Fi for micro-businesses - delivering guaranteed coverage across the workplace, full fibre speeds and free tech expert support - the new unit will help the UK’s smallest firms and start-ups to rebuild and get set for growth.

Sarah Walker, BT Enterprise business director for the Midlands, said: “By setting up this new unit we’re investing in the future of Birmingham’s smallest firms and start-ups which are the lifeblood of the local economy. I’m really proud that we’re creating this new unit at a time when their success has never been more important in securing the city’s future as it rebuilds after the toughest economic crisis in a generation.

“In addition, we’re tripling the speed of full fibre broadband for businesses in Birmingham, with nearly 8,500 of the city’s smallest firms now able to access speeds of up to 900Mbps through BT. The availability of our fastest business broadband speeds yet will grow over time as Openreach continues to expand its full fibre footprint across the city.”

A recent survey carried out by BT found that nearly a third of Birmingham small businesses (28 per cent) planned to move more of their operations online following lockdown restrictions easing; while 67 per cent would be more likely to adopt new technologies if they knew the technology industry provided training or support.

BT’s new SoHo business unit will provide dedicated support for small and micro-businesses buying its new Halo for business broadband bundles, with free expert set-up of equipment and advanced UK-based remote IT support. A 4G back-up service will also be offered if there’s a problem with the fixed line, to ensure uninterrupted business connectivity.

As part of its bid to kick start the growth of UK micro-businesses and start-ups, BT is also trialling new online tools which will make it easier for them to run their own digital advertising campaigns.

BT’s new online tools are designed to remove some of the biggest barriers which are preventing the UK’s smallest companies from using digital advertising to boost their online presence and reach new customers. The new service is currently being trialled with customers and BT will share more details over the coming weeks.

The launch of the new SoHo business unit and the availability of new business broadband and digital marketing tools is further evidence of BT’s support for the UK’s small businesses. It builds on BT’s Small Business Support Scheme, a broad package of measures launched last Summer to help small businesses thrive during and beyond the pandemic, by boosting their connectivity, cashflow and confidence.

Businesses can find out more about the full fibre offers available from BT by visiting: https://business.bt.com/products/broadband-and-internet/full-fibre/