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Continuity of supply of telecommunications services

On Monday 5 October 2026, BT Group PLC announced it had acquired TalkTalk Telecom Group out of administration in a rescue deal. As has been widely reported, TalkTalk had been seeking a buyer for its consumer and wholesale businesses following a period of financial difficulty. After an extensive open commercial bidding process there was no agreement on the sale of both these businesses.

My officials closely monitored this process, given disconnections to TalkTalk’s customers would create risks to life and the continuity of the supply of telecommunications. The network supports critical infrastructure and services that people and public bodies rely on every day – including calls to emergency services, ambulance and hospital communications and medical alarms. A sudden disruption would also impact businesses across the country that depend on reliable telecoms networks.

Following BT’s announcement and in light of the unprecedented circumstances, I intervened using my powers under the Enterprise Act 2002 (“the Act”) and have issued a Public Interest Intervention Notice (PIIN) as I have reasonable grounds to suspect that there is a relevant merger situation and that there are public interest considerations under the Act, or that ought to be specified in the Act, which are or may be relevant.

The PIIN specifies:

• An existing Public Interest Consideration specified under 58(2E) of the Act, namely the need to maintain in the United Kingdom the capability to combat, and to mitigate the effects of, public health emergencies; and

• A new Public Interest Consideration, which I will specify under s58 of the Act, namely the need to maintain in the United Kingdom the continuity of the supply of telecommunications services for the purposes of preventing disruption to the economy and society of the United Kingdom, including disruption to:

• public services

• critical national infrastructure

• supply to customers who are or may be vulnerable.

At the earliest possible opportunity, I will lay an Order which specifies this new public interest consideration. The Order will need to be approved by both Houses of Parliament.

My Department has written to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and to the relevant parties to set this out. The PIIN and the letters are available on GOV.UK.

The PIIN requires the CMA to deliver its report by 5.00pm on 19 October 2026. I will then decide whether or not to refer the merger back to the CMA for detailed investigation of the competition and/or public interest issues.

I will update Parliament on any further developments.