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Ian focuses on the IT sector
Tuesday July 15th 2008. Posted: 15:47
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Ian Livingston has been talking about BT strategy in an interview with The Australian
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BT chief executive Ian Livingston has been speaking in the Australian media about BT’s global operation and its acquisitions and partnerships in the IT sector.
He said BT would continue its policy of making acquisitions but said it was not interested in buying a large IT services company. He also ruled out selling BT Global Services. Interviewed for the IT section of The Australian, Ian said: “We have made a number of acquisitions around the world and we will continue to do so. “We just bought Frontline, based in Singapore, which services a lot of the Asia Pacific region. We have made few purchases in Britain and the USA, and one in Germany just a few days ago. “What we are not seeking to do is be a medium-tier IT company. We are concentrating on enhancing and extending our position as the leading provider around the world. “Gartner has us at the top of its magic quadrant and we are filling in where we have less geographical presence and scaling up in some countries, but buying a medium-ranked IT company is probably the growing thing.” Ian said BT partners and markets with IT companies, and he gave Hewlett-Packard as an example. “We a have a partnership with Accenture and go to market with it too," he said. "There is a lot to be said for best of breed.” Asked whether he would sell BT Global Services if someone offered good money for the business, Ian replied: “We think it is a successful business and our focus is on growing it further and growing profitability. We are not looking for a sale.” He also said it is not on BT’s agenda to go back and buy a mobile company. “We have a mobile business," he said. "In the consumer business it's about taking your broadband on the move and in the corporate space managing mobile services for customers.” Ian said mobile broadband was taking off in Britain, and he added: “The evidence seems to be that it's a complement. People who have broadband in the home might want broadband out and about. The thing that has also taken off is public wi-fi. We do more than one million minutes a day, which is growth of 100 per cent year on year.” Asked if he believes worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) will be competitive technology, Ian said: “It might be. Competitive with what is a little bit of a question.”
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Last updated:
15:55