London, Jan 25, 2026, 09:30 GMT — Markets have shut down.
- BT closed Friday at 188.25 pence, gaining 0.75%.
- Openreach revealed it will pull copper-based services from 132 additional exchanges.
- Investors are eyeing BT’s Q3 FY26 trading update, set for Feb. 5.
BT Group shares ended higher on Friday, marking a second straight day of gains, as its Openreach unit advanced plans to phase out copper lines. (Hargreaves Lansdown)
This shift is crucial now, as BT’s fibre rollout and copper phase-out hinge on speeding up network simplification and protecting its broadband customer base, all while investors gear up for a packed schedule of sector earnings reports.
Openreach is set to end sales of copper-based phone and broadband services at 132 more exchanges, affecting around 1.23 million premises, according to Telecompaper. The company has notified service providers with a 12-month lead time. The “stop sell” takes effect once full-fibre coverage hits 75% of premises in an exchange area — forcing customers to switch or upgrade to fibre where it’s widely available. (Telecompaper)
BT finished roughly 2.3% higher across the past two sessions, buoyed by advances on Thursday and Friday, per historical pricing data. (Investing)
BT edged higher even as UK blue chips struggled. The FTSE 100 finished the week a bit weaker on Friday, pulled down by fresh geopolitical concerns, according to a Reuters report. (Reuters)
BT has not released any new regulatory updates recently. The latest RNS notice on Investegate dates back to Dec. 31. (Investegate)
Traders are turning their attention to BT’s upcoming update for a better sense of demand and cash management. According to BT’s investor calendar, the Q3 FY26 trading update lands on Feb. 5, with an interim dividend scheduled for Feb. 11. (BT)
The main risk lies in execution. Rushing away from copper could spark customer churn, create installation backlogs, or trigger complaints if migrations falter. Meanwhile, fibre’s economics remain tied to adoption rates and wholesale pricing.
Looking ahead to the week, all eyes are on whether BT can maintain its recent gains when the London market opens Monday — and, importantly, what it will reveal on Feb. 5.
