BT Ireland turnover rises 4.3% to near €1bn

BRITAIN’S largest phone company, BT has said turnover at in its Irish businesses rose by 4.3% to £771m (€969m) in the year to March 2008.

It also said earnings were up 21%, while it increased its number of broadband customers here by 24% to 80,000.

New wave revenue, driven by broadband, networked IT services and mobility, rose by 13% year-on-year and accounted for 30% of total revenue, BT said yesterday.

The company also said it has received strong demand for its extensive networked IT services portfolio, particularly in the area of managed services.

Chief executive at BT, Chris Clark said: “It’s been a very strong year for our operation on the island both in terms of growth in revenue and EBITDA. Our focus on growing new wave business and defending traditional revenues has yielded an exceptional set of results.

“We continue to invest heavily in product development and customer service to differentiate ourselves in what is a rapidly changing marketplace.”

The company also announced yesterday that it will sell mobile products and services to small firms in the Republic of Ireland following a new partnership agreement with O2 Ireland.

Meanwhile, in London yesterday BT Group rose the most in two years trading after fourth-quarter revenue and profit on a group level beat analysts’ estimates.

BT climbed as much as 7.4%, the most since May 2006.

Net income fell to £426m (€536m), in the quarter ended in March, from £454m a year earlier, the London-based company said.