The sequential improvement in BT Global Services has continued with EBITDA of £95m, up 53% compared with the first quarter. Excluding BT Global Services, adjusted EBITDA for the rest of the group increased by 3%. Foreign exchange movements and acquisitions had a £20m negative impact on EBITDA. Other operating income decreased by £14m to £93m largely due to some non recurring items in the prior year.
Group operating costs decreased by 3% to £4,559m. Underlying group operating costs reduced by 9% primarily due to reductions in total labour costs and the delivery of other cost savings by all lines of business. Leaver costs were £21m (Q2 2008/09: £36m).
Our direct staff costs, on an underlying basis, decreased by 12% to £1,178m largely due to the impact of staff reductions and lower pension charges. Other operating costs, on an underlying basis, decreased by 9% to £1,606m principally due to reductions in indirect labour costs and discretionary expenditure. Total labour costs, on an underlying basis, decreased by 16%.
Total capital expenditure reduced by £208m to £558m reflecting improved procurement, better efficiency and management of capital expenditure and the timing of capital projects.
In total, underlying operating costs and capital expenditure reduced by £575m to £4,194m in the quarter, a reduction of 12%.
Depreciation and amortisation increased by 11% to £759m reflecting the impact of higher value and shorter lived software, Ethernet and ADSL2+ assets being brought into use.
Ian Livingston, Chief Executive, commenting on the results, said: “We have had another quarter of progress but there remains a lot more to do. With total cost reductions of over £900m in the first half, we have made significant headway towards our previous target of well over £1bn for the full year. We now expect to generate at least £1.6bn of free cash flow this year, compared with our previous target of over £1bn.
“We are investing in the future of the business with an enhanced and accelerated programme of fibre deployment and wider roll out of faster broadband speeds, all within our capital expenditure plans.
“Given our operational performance, we expect to increase dividends by around 5% for the full year. The Board is declaring an interim dividend of 2.3p per share.”