BT and Verizon have formed a 50:50 joint venture to create a scalable, cloud-first international connectivity platform aimed at serving about 3,000 multinational customers in more than 180 countries.

The joint venture will combine BT’s international business with Verizon’s global operations, leveraging AI and cloud capabilities to offer secure, resilient connectivity that interoperates across borders and cloud environments.

This deal marks a strategic shift for BT toward strengthening its UK-focused strategy while spinning out its international enterprise capabilities.

Martijn Blanken, formerly of Telstra, will lead the venture as CEO, with the entity’s name yet to be disclosed.

Regulatory approvals and consultations with employee representatives are required, and the international businesses will operate independently until the deal closes.

BT has pursued cost-cutting and efficiency measures, raising savings targets to 3.7 billion pounds by 2030 and aiming for a headcount around 75,000 to 80,000 by decade’s end.

Spinning off the global enterprise-focused JV will let BT and Verizon sharpen their focus on domestic markets while expanding in the multinational space.

Industry executives note the platform is designed for secure, resilient connectivity in a global, cloud-centric, AI-enabled business landscape.

Verizon is also pursuing cost reductions, including a planned workforce reduction, and views the JV as a means to run a cutting-edge, AI-ready, secure platform under a single global organization.

The venture targets roughly four billion dollars in annual revenue, delivering resilient global networking and infrastructure aligned with local data sovereignty and regulatory requirements.

The formal announcement confirms a 50/50 JV to unify BT’s international business with Verizon’s operations, concluding BT’s 18-month search for a buyer.

By combining strengths, the venture aims to deliver secure, flexible, cross-border connectivity that interoperates with cloud environments and emphasizes AI-driven capabilities.