STORY
The Government has intervened in BT Group’s proposed acquisition of TalkTalk amid concerns that a collapse of the telecommunications company could disrupt essential telephone and broadband services. Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Lisa Nandy has issued a Public Interest Intervention Notice under the Enterprise Act 2002, allowing the wider consequences of the deal to be considered alongside competition concerns.
TalkTalk has been seeking a buyer for its consumer and wholesale operations following a period of financial difficulty. The Government said its networks support emergency calls, hospital and ambulance communications, medical alarms and other critical services, including those used by vulnerable customers. Customers have been told that they do not need to take any action and that services should continue as normal while the acquisition process proceeds.
The Competition and Markets Authority has been instructed to report to Nandy by 19 October 2026. She will then be able to consider the public interest implications of the transaction, including public health, critical national infrastructure and the continuity of telecommunications services, as well as the CMA’s assessment of any competition issues. The Government also intends to place an order before Parliament adding continuity of telecommunications supply as a specific ground for intervention under the Enterprise Act.