News 

The UK's dominant fixed-line telecoms provider claims its BT Retail unit accounted for 38% of net DSL broadband additions during the quarter, one of its highest results ever, versus 32% in the last quarter and 30% a year ago.

With 459,000 new broadband customers, its 38% gave it 175,000 new broadband customers in what it says is seasonally the slowest quarter of the year.

BT expects to remain as the country's number one

Carphone, claims it connected 126,000 new customers in the first quarter. It recently launched an offer to woo customers on long-term contracts by offering free laptops.

BT shake-up

BT unveiled a major shake-up earlier this year, creating two new business units in an attempt to cut costs as part of its move to transform the group from a operator with a declining fixed-line business to an IT and communications provider focused on broadband.

Chief Executive Ben Verwaayen claims BT has got off to a strong start for the year, with another robust all round performance and says he expects to see the strong trends continue in the broadband market. "There is success across the board," he says.

BT's revenue rose 3%, in line with analyst forecasts, with its so-called new wave revenues from broadband and corporate networked IT services rising 11% to £1.82 billion.