British Telecom Group, the largest provider broadband and mobile services in Britainwill cut up to 55,000 jobs, including external partners, by 2030 – possibly more than 40% of its workforce as it completes fiber deployment and adapts to new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI).

The company is working on a transformation plan to build a national fiber optic network under the leadership of Philip Jansen, while developing 5G mobile services.

Janssen stated that after completing the deployment of optical fiber, digitizing its operation, adopting artificial intelligence and simplifying its structure, BT will rely on a much smaller workforce and will significantly reduce the cost base by the late 2020s.

The total number of employees will be reduced from 130,000 to 75,000 to 90,000 by fiscal year 2030 at the latest, according to the announcement. Some of its 30,000 active employees are outsourced.