BT

British telecommunications company. Its principal activity is the supply of local, long-distance, and international telecommunications services and equipment in the UK, serving 25 million exchange lines. BT also offers an international direct-dialled telephone service to more than 200 countries and other overseas territories - covering 99% of the world's 800 million telephones. One of the world's leading providers of telecommunications services and one of the largest private-sector companies in Europe, in 1997 BT had a market capitalization in excess of £28 billion and had established operations in more than 30 countries worldwide, with joint ventures in Spain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, South Africa, New Zealand, Japan, and India.

In September 1999, British Telecom and AT&T announced their plans to form an international mobile phone network called Advance to attract business customers. The two companies had annual sales of $12 billion and served 41 million mobile phone customers in 17 countries.

In 2000 BT's UK fixed network business was separated into wholesale and retail divisions. The company's other assets in the UK, Europe, and elsewhere were regrouped by market sector rather than geography. Four new businesses were created: Ignite, a broadband business for corporate and wholesale markets; BTopenworld, a mass-market Internet business including broadband services; BTWireless (formerly BT Cellnet), an international cellular operator; and Yell (formerly Yellow Pages), an international directories and electronic commerce business.

BT formed part of the Post Office until 1980, and was privatized in 1984. Previously a monopoly, it now faces commercial competition for some of its services. BT is not allowed to offer other cable services apart from telephones.