Particle.news
Download on the App Store
4 ARTICLES
·
40m ago

BT Chief Says UK-Imposed Telecom Costs Are Up to 10 Times European Levels

Kirkby frames the burden as a threat to returns on major network builds as the Treasury finalizes a November budget.

Image
Image
Allison Kirkby says BT pays ten times more “government-inflicted costs” than its peers in other big European countries

Overview

  • Allison Kirkby told the Connected Britain conference that business rates, energy levies, and regulatory compliance leave UK operators paying far more than peers in Germany and the Netherlands.
  • She said the sector is already at its peak capacity to absorb government-inflicted costs and cautioned that the November budget could be very difficult for the chancellor.
  • Kirkby called for planning reform to speed up mobile and fibre deployment, saying the UK is behind comparable European markets.
  • BT is investing about £15bn in 5G and full-fibre networks, with Openreach leading the fibre rollout, and has flagged roughly £100m in added costs from last year’s national insurance and minimum wage changes.
  • Her remarks echo broader warnings from business leaders, including Eli Lilly’s chief executive on UK drug pricing and retail and energy executives on taxes, red tape, and job risks.