BT Group has reported a record year for its fiber network build-out in the UK.

The telco reported this week that its FTTP build added an additional 4.3 million premises for the last financial year to March 31, 2025.

Indeed, the carrier has increased its target to five million builds for FY26, as part of the company’s aim through its subsidiary Openreach to reach 25 million premises with fiber by the end of December 2026.

That figure is currently at 18 million premises, confirmed BT.

BT also noted that it added 500,000 subscribers for its FTTP, with more than 6.5 million premises now connected to the company’s fiber network.

“The momentum in, and impact of, our full fiber program is such that we are now raising our build target by 20 percent to up to 5m UK premises in FY26, keeping us comfortably on track to reach 25m by the end of 2026, while maintaining our cash flow guidance,” said Allison Kirkby, chief executive, BT.

For the full financial year, BT posted revenue of £20.35 billion ($27.49bn), down two percent year-on-year. The decline was mainly down to lower international sales and handsets, noted Kirkby.

Despite the slight dip in revenue, BT reported a 12 percent increase in profit before tax to £1.3bn ($1.76bn).

For the financial year, BT’s mobile operator EE increased its 5G customer base to 13.2 million, an increase of up to 15 percent YoY, while the telco reported that energy usage in its networks was down four percent.

Cutting costs

Kirkby made note of the company’s cost savings too, stating that the telco has been able to deliver £913m ($1.22bn) of annualized cost savings.

Kirkby outlined plans last year to save a further £3 billion ($4bn) in costs by the end of 2029.

Part of her turnaround strategy has been to focus heavily on the company’s home market in the UK.

In 2023, BT announced plans to cut 55,000 jobs by the end of the decade, affecting its operations both in the UK and globally. This is set to reduce headcount at the company to 75,000 by 2030 from 130,000.

Earlier this month, it was reported that BT will set up its international business as a new standalone unit. The company didn’t make any reference to this in its earnings report, but Kirkby has made it clear during her tenure that the company wants to focus intently on BT’s domestic telecoms and broadband opportunities, as the business looks to streamline.

Last month, the company agreed to sell its Italian unit to Retelit, while earlier this year, BT agreed to sell its Irish wholesale and enterprise unit to Cordiant subsidiary Speed Fibre Group.

Just before Christmas, Equinix agreed to acquire BT Group’s Irish data center business for €59 million ($67.3m), a deal expected to be completed during the first half of this year. However, Irish competition regulator the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) announced this week it is to carry out a full Phase 2 investigation into the deal.