BT blamed what it called a “competitive” broadband market for the exodus, though many customers might simply describe it as “better deals elsewhere.” The loss coincided with a six per cent cut to its total workforce, leaving about 111,000 staff after roughly 5,000 people were shown the door in the first half of 2025.

These cuts, part of a long-running overhaul, helped the company scrape together nearly £250 million in savings during the period. That brings BT’s total savings to £1.2 billion since starting its cost-cutting spree 18 months ago. The telco hopes to carve out £3 billion in annual savings once the bloodletting is complete.

Despite all the trimming, the financial picture still looks grim. Group revenue for the six months to 30 September dropped three per cent to £9.8 billion compared with the previous year. Legacy landline services continue to dwindle, while the mobile market has cooled as users hang on to ageing handsets rather than upgrading.

Pre-tax profits fell 11 per cent year on year to £862 million, another painful reminder that simply firing people does not magically boost sales.

BT chief executive Allison Kirkby said:“BT is delivering on its strategy in competitive markets,” she insisted, claiming the company was seeing “customer growth across consumer broadband, mobile and TV.”

Kirkby also said BT’s focus on the UK and “radical simplification and modernisation” were offsetting weakness in international and legacy operations, as well as higher labour costs brought on by the government’s tax changes.