BT is divesting its financial networking arm, Radianz, in a sale to Transaction Network Services (TNS), marking another major step in its UK-centric corporate strategy.
British telecommunications giant BT Group has confirmed the sale of Radianz, its specialist unit that provides secure connectivity to the global financial industry. The move is part of a broader, publicly stated plan to shed international assets and intensify focus on its domestic UK market. The buyer, Transaction Network Services (TNS), is a US-based company specializing in trading infrastructure and payment processing.
Details of the Transaction
While the specific financial terms of the sale remain confidential, BT disclosed that Radianz generated revenues of £142 million in the fiscal year that concluded in March 2025. According to a prior report from The Financial Times, the business produces an annual EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) of between £60 million and £70 million. The deal, which will transfer the extensive Radianz network to TNS, is anticipated to close within the first half of 2026. This marks a strategic exit from an asset BT acquired from Reuters back in 2005 for $175 million.
Executing a UK-First Mandate
The divestment is a direct result of the strategy set forth by CEO Allison Kirkby in May 2024, which aims to streamline the company by exiting non-core international operations perceived as a drag on profitability. This is the latest in a string of international disposals, including the sale of its Irish enterprise business to Speed Fibre Group and its Irish data center to Equinix. The company has also agreed to sell its Italian operations to Retelit.
Bas Burger, the CEO of BT International, commented that the deal is a significant milestone that allows his division to concentrate on its primary mission: providing secure multi-cloud connectivity for large global organizations. Similarly, Radianz Managing Director Phil Swindle noted his pride in the unit’s development and expressed optimism that the merger with TNS will spur innovation and growth for all customers involved.
Restructuring for Future Partnerships
To facilitate this strategic pivot, BT is reorganizing its remaining international business into a standalone entity. This structural change is designed to make it easier to explore long-term options, which include: operating a smaller, more profitable version of the business, selling it entirely, or finding a strategic partner to help it scale. BT has reportedly held partnership talks with industry players such as AT&T and Orange. The appeal of the international unit to potential investors is bolstered by its new Global Fabric platform, an advanced network-as-a-service offering designed to be more efficient and better aligned with modern enterprise needs.
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