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BT Reportedly Weighs Budget Mobile Move as Fintech Rivals Enter

Fintech-backed MVNO growth is prompting an internal review of how BT competes at lower price points.

Overview

  • The Financial Times, as cited by the Guardian, reports BT is assessing whether to launch a low-cost mobile brand or acquire an existing virtual network operator.
  • A BT spokesperson said the company has no current plans to change its mobile offering, framing the activity as routine brand review.
  • Any shift would break from BT’s current focus on selling mobile through the premium EE brand after limiting Plusnet to broadband last year.
  • The exploration is described as led by chief executive Allison Kirkby with support from major shareholder Sunil Bharti Mittal.
  • Analysts note MVNOs held 16.5% of the UK mobile market last year as new entrants including Revolut, Monzo, Klarna and Fern Trading push into mobile services.