This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-36210097
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| BT profits boosted by broadband and TV | BT profits boosted by broadband and TV |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| BT has reported a 15% rise in annual profits to £3.03bn, helped by stronger demand for broadband and TV services. | BT has reported a 15% rise in annual profits to £3.03bn, helped by stronger demand for broadband and TV services. |
| The company also announced that it will spend £6bn over the next three years to roll out faster broadband and mobile phone services. | The company also announced that it will spend £6bn over the next three years to roll out faster broadband and mobile phone services. |
| Total sales rose 6% to almost £19bn, which includes £1.06bn contribution from mobile operator EE. | Total sales rose 6% to almost £19bn, which includes £1.06bn contribution from mobile operator EE. |
| The deal to buy EE was cleared in January and BT said the integration of EE was "going well". | The deal to buy EE was cleared in January and BT said the integration of EE was "going well". |
| "We now see the opportunity to deliver more synergies than we originally expected, and at a lower cost," said chief executive Gavin Patterson. | "We now see the opportunity to deliver more synergies than we originally expected, and at a lower cost," said chief executive Gavin Patterson. |
| Sports impact | Sports impact |
| BT's results were boosted by a strong year for BT Consumer, which supplies broadband, telephone and TV services. Sales were up 7% at £4.6bn for the year. | |
| The number of customers for its TV service jumped by 28% to 1.5 million. | The number of customers for its TV service jumped by 28% to 1.5 million. |
| BT said audiences for its sports coverage - where it has made massive investment - were up 45%, which it attributed to its live coverage of Champions League and UEFA Europa League matches. | BT said audiences for its sports coverage - where it has made massive investment - were up 45%, which it attributed to its live coverage of Champions League and UEFA Europa League matches. |
| BT also shares coverage of the FA Cup with the BBC and has a package of Premier League matches. | BT also shares coverage of the FA Cup with the BBC and has a package of Premier League matches. |
| Faster broadband | |
| The company also detailed its investment plans for the next three years. | |
| It will offer what it describes as "ultrafast" broadband to 12 million premises by 2020, an acceleration of its previous plan. | |
| Most consumers will receive the improved service via BT's G.fast technology, which is currently capable of speeds of 300Mbps (megabits-per-second), but will be capable of speeds of up to 500Mbps, BT says. | |
| That is more than enough for households that want fast broadband to stream movies and play online games. | |
| On average UK households received speeds of 29Mbps last year, according to regulator Ofcom. | |
| "Customers want their broadband to be affordable as well as fast and we will be able to do that using G.fast," said Mr Patterson. | |
| The company also plans to hire 1,000 new engineers this year as part of an effort to improve customer service. | |
| BT will continue to return customer services to the UK and by March 2017 says it will handle 90% of calls by UK based staff. |