BT Group is reportedly weighing plans to launch a new low-cost mobile brand as part of a potential strategy to compete with a wave of new market entrants — including fintech heavyweights Revolut and Monzo, both preparing to debut mobile services.
According to the Financial Times, the UK’s largest telecoms company is assessing whether to develop an in-house budget brand or acquire an existing virtual network operator (MVNO) as it explores opportunities to re-enter the value end of the mobile market.
Such a move would represent a strategic shift for BT, which currently offers mobile services solely through its premium EE brand, and has focused its Plusnet subsidiary on broadband since a restructuring last year.
The push comes as virtual network operators — companies that lease capacity from established networks such as EE, Vodafone, and Three — expand rapidly, accounting for 16.5% of the UK mobile market in 2024, according to Ofcom. Analysts expect that share to rise as competition intensifies between low-cost and digital-first providers.
Support authors and subscribe to content
This is premium stuff. Subscribe to read the entire article.
