London, Jan 25, 2026, 09:30 GMT — Markets are closed.
- BT ended Friday at 188.25 pence, up 0.75%.
- Openreach announced plans to scrap copper-based services at 132 more exchanges.
- BT’s Q3 FY26 trading update is scheduled for Feb. 5, drawing investor attention.
BT Group shares climbed on Friday, extending a two-day winning streak, after its Openreach division announced accelerated plans to retire copper lines.
The shift is critical at this stage. BT’s fibre rollout and copper phase-out depend on accelerating network simplification and safeguarding its broadband customers. Investors are bracing for a heavy slate of sector earnings reports ahead.
Openreach plans to halt sales of copper-based phone and broadband services at 132 additional exchanges, impacting roughly 1.23 million premises, Telecompaper reports. The company has given service providers a year’s notice. The “stop sell” kicks in once full-fibre reaches 75% coverage in an exchange area, pushing customers to switch or upgrade to fibre where it’s broadly accessible. Telecompaper
BT gained about 2.3% over the last two sessions, lifted by gains on Thursday and Friday, according to historical pricing data.
BT ticked up despite broader weakness among UK blue chips. The FTSE 100 wrapped up the week slightly lower Friday, weighed down by renewed geopolitical worries, Reuters reported.
BT hasn’t put out any fresh regulatory updates lately. The last RNS notice on Investegate goes back to Dec. 31.
Traders are eyeing BT’s next update to gauge demand and cash flow more clearly. The Q3 FY26 trading update is set for Feb. 5, per BT’s investor calendar, followed by an interim dividend on Feb. 11.
The biggest risk comes down to execution. Moving too quickly from copper might lead to customer losses, installation delays, or complaints if migrations don’t go smoothly. At the same time, fibre’s financial outlook still depends heavily on adoption levels and wholesale prices.
Next week, attention turns to BT and whether it can hold onto its recent gains once the London market opens Monday — with Feb. 5 set as the key date for any announcements.
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