UK Reinforces Strategic Controls Over BT’s Critical Telecom…

Sarah J · 2026-05-28T16:46:34.000Z

The UK government would oppose any attempt by Indian billionaire Sunil Bharti Mittal to increase Bharti Enterprises’ stake in British telecom giant BT Group beyond 25%, according to officials familiar with the matter, citing national-security concerns and the need to preserve sovereign control over critical telecommunications infrastructure in the United Kingdom. The development highlights the increasing strategic sensitivity surrounding telecom networks, broadband infrastructure, data systems, and digital connectivity assets across Europe and other advanced economies as governments tighten scrutiny over foreign investment in critical infrastructure sectors. Bharti Enterprises acquired a 24.5% stake in BT Group in 2024 from French-Israeli billionaire Patrick Drahi and has since marginally increased its holding to 24.95%. Any move beyond the 25% ownership threshold would trigger a formal national-security review under the UK’s National Security and Investment Act. British officials reportedly made it clear internally that such a move would likely face government resistance regardless of Bharti’s long-standing relationship with the UK. Officials emphasised that the issue is not specifically related to India or Bharti Enterprises, but rather reflects a broader shift in how governments are approaching strategic infrastructure ownership in an increasingly uncertain geopolitical environment. BT Group remains one of the UK’s most strategically important telecom operators. Its broadband infrastructure arm, Openreach, provides fibre broadband connectivity to more than 22 million homes across Britain, making it a critical component of the country’s digital infrastructure and communications backbone. The UK government’s stance reflects a wider global trend where telecoms, semiconductors, AI infrastructure, data centres, satellite systems, energy grids, ports, and digital networks are increasingly being treated as matters of economic security and national resilience rather than purely commercial assets. Since becoming BT’s largest shareholder, Sunil Bharti Mittal has reportedly maintained a close working relationship with BT CEO Allison Kirkby and secured two board seats within the company. Industry observers noted that Bharti had projected itself as a long-term strategic investor interested in supporting BT’s transformation, fibre expansion, and infrastructure modernisation plans. Mittal has also been one of India’s most internationally active business leaders with longstanding investments and partnerships in the UK. Bharti previously partnered with the British government in rescuing satellite company OneWeb in 2020, helping establish the UK’s presence in low-earth-orbit satellite infrastructure after Brexit-era strategic concerns around space sovereignty. The latest development therefore creates a complex balancing act for Britain — seeking to remain open to global capital and strategic international investors while simultaneously tightening control over sensitive national infrastructure sectors. Analysts believe the case could become an important precedent for future cross-border investments involving telecoms, AI infrastructure, cloud platforms, semiconductors, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure across Europe and the UK. Governments globally are increasingly using national-security laws to review foreign investments in sectors viewed as strategically critical. The situation also highlights the growing global influence of Indian multinational conglomerates, which are rapidly expanding investments across telecoms, technology, infrastructure, aerospace, digital services, renewable energy, and financial systems internationally. The evolving UK-Bharti situation comes amid broader geopolitical debates around economic sovereignty, trusted supply chains, strategic technology ownership, and infrastructure resilience in an increasingly fragmented global economic environment.

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UK Reinforces Strategic Controls Over BT’s Critical Telecom… | SEINET