British telecoms giant BT today said rising demand for broadband had helped it to its fastest underlying revenues growth in nearly three years.
BT, which owns Esat in Ireland, said it was connecting a new broadband customer every 15 seconds as turnover from 'new-wave' services broke through the £1 billion mark in the second quarter.
High-speed technology now accounts for 22% of group revenues as BT steps up its transition from a fixed-line operator.
A record 607,000 customers were hooked up to broadband in the three months to September 30, boosting its total end user base to 3.3 million.
BT said pre-tax profits for the quarter were 4% higher than a year ago at £549m, with underlying turnover up 2% at £4.6 billion. BT blamed a 6% fall in its traditional fixed-line business on competition, price cuts and measures to encourage people to sign up for broadband.
Today's results come just days after BT announced the £520m acquisition of California-based Infonet, which supplies internal communications systems.
BT disappointed investors in July with its first quarter figures and today said interim profits were 4% lower than a year ago at £983m. Half-year turnover was flat at £9.2 billion.
