BT and Verizon Announce 50:50 Joint Venture
BT and Verizon are combining their international enterprise operations in a new equal-stakes venture focused on multinational connectivity.
BT VERIZON JOINT VENTURE • GLOBAL ENTERPRISE CONNECTIVITY • UK TELECOMS NEWS
BT Group and Verizon have announced plans to create a 50:50 joint venture that combines their respective international enterprise operations.
The new company is aimed at multinational organisations that need secure, cross-border connectivity, cloud networking and digital infrastructure across many countries.
According to the companies, the venture will serve more than 3,000 customers in more than 180 countries and represents approximately $4 billion in combined annual revenue.
For UK readers, the key point is that this is not a direct change to home broadband packages. It is mainly about BT’s international business and Verizon’s international enterprise wireline operations.
BT and Verizon deal at a glance
BT and Verizon will each own half of the new international enterprise connectivity business.
The venture represents approximately $4 billion in combined annual revenue.
The combined platform is expected to serve more than 3,000 multinational customers.
The business will support international connectivity across more than 180 countries.
Completion is expected in 2027, subject to regulatory approvals and closing conditions.
Verizon is expected to make an equalisation payment to BT as part of the transaction.
Quick takeaway: this is a major enterprise telecoms deal, not a new residential broadband package. UK home broadband customers should not expect an immediate plan change from this announcement alone.
What have BT and Verizon announced?
A new international business for enterprise customers
BT and Verizon have agreed to combine their international enterprise operations into a new joint venture. The companies say the platform will be built for cloud-first and AI-ready connectivity needs.
In simple terms, the deal is about helping large organisations connect offices, data, cloud systems and users across borders. It brings together BT’s international networking business and Verizon’s international enterprise wireline operations.
The venture will have equal ownership and equal voting rights, with both companies remaining involved in the new business.
| Area | What it means | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | BT and Verizon will each hold 50% of the new company. | Neither company is taking full control; the venture is designed as an equal partnership. |
| Customer focus | Large multinational organisations, not ordinary home broadband users. | The deal is mostly about international enterprise connectivity rather than consumer broadband deals. |
| Scale | More than 3,000 customers across more than 180 countries. | The combined platform gives the new business a large global footprint from day one. |
| Timing | Expected completion in 2027, subject to approvals. | The deal is announced, but it still needs to close before the new company fully launches. |
Why are BT and Verizon doing this?
BT can sharpen its focus on the UK
BT has been simplifying its international operations and focusing more heavily on its UK business, including broadband, mobile, fibre and business connectivity.
By moving international enterprise operations into a joint venture, BT can keep exposure to global enterprise services while reducing the complexity of running those operations alone.
Verizon gains global enterprise scale
Verizon brings international enterprise wireline operations into the new company. The deal gives Verizon a larger platform for serving global business customers outside its core domestic market.
The companies say the combined business will be better placed to serve organisations that need secure global networking, cloud connectivity and resilience.
Does this affect UK broadband customers?
No immediate UK home broadband change has been announced
This announcement is focused on international enterprise connectivity. It does not announce a new BT residential broadband tariff, a new EE broadband package, or a change to Openreach full-fibre rollout plans.
For ordinary UK households, the practical impact is likely to be indirect. The deal may help BT simplify its wider business and focus more clearly on the UK market, but customers should not treat it as a broadband price or package announcement.
Customer takeaway: if you have BT broadband, EE broadband, or a service using Openreach, your current home broadband contract is not changed by this joint venture announcement.
What happens next?
The deal still needs approvals
The joint venture is expected to complete in 2027. Before then, the transaction must go through regulatory approvals and other closing conditions.
BT and Verizon have also named Martijn Blanken as CEO-designate for the new venture. He is expected to join BT Group in September 2026 before taking up the role when the transaction completes.
Important: because the deal is not expected to complete until 2027, more details about branding, customer migration and operational structure may follow later.
Bottom line
BT and Verizon are building a major global enterprise connectivity platform
The BT and Verizon 50:50 joint venture is a major move in international telecoms. It creates a large enterprise connectivity business with global reach, a strong multinational customer base and around $4 billion in annual revenue.
For UK broadband customers, the announcement is mainly a business strategy story rather than a direct consumer broadband change. The bigger message is that BT is continuing to simplify its international operations while focusing more on its UK priorities.
FAQs
What did BT and Verizon announce?
BT and Verizon announced a 50:50 joint venture that will combine their international enterprise operations into a new global connectivity business.
How big is the BT and Verizon joint venture?
The new venture is expected to represent approximately $4 billion in combined annual revenue and serve more than 3,000 customers across more than 180 countries.
Will this affect BT broadband customers in the UK?
No immediate change to UK home broadband customers has been announced. The joint venture is focused on international enterprise connectivity rather than residential broadband packages.
When will the BT and Verizon joint venture complete?
The companies expect the transaction to complete in 2027, subject to regulatory approvals and other closing conditions.
Why is Verizon paying BT $625 million?
Verizon is expected to make a $625 million equalisation payment to BT as part of the transaction, while both companies retain equal 50:50 ownership and voting rights in the venture.
HASNAAT MAHMOOD
Broadband & Technology Expert
"The BT and Verizon joint venture is best understood as an enterprise connectivity move, not a household broadband change. It gives both companies a larger global platform while allowing BT to keep sharpening its focus on the UK market."