In a major move to transform international networking, BT Group and Verizon Communications have signed an agreement to combine their respective international enterprise operations into a 50:50 joint venture. The blockbuster deal will establish a scaled, future-ready international connectivity platform specifically designed for a cloud-first world in the age of artificial intelligence.
The new entity will boast massive global reach, serving more than 3,000 multinational customers across more than 180 countries and generating approximately $4 billion in combined annual revenue. By merging BT International’s secure communication network with Verizon’s international enterprise wireline arm, the company will deliver the localized compliance, data sovereignty, and robust security required by the world’s leading brands. Under the terms of the agreement, both parent companies will retain equal voting rights, and Verizon will make an equalization payment of $625 million to BT Group.
The structural shift allows both telecom giants to sharpen their focus on their respective domestic markets—the United Kingdom for BT and the United States for Verizon—while maintaining strong ties to the enterprise customers they support locally. Incorporated in Jersey and headquartered in the United Kingdom, the joint venture will form strategic commercial partnerships with both parent firms to ensure seamless, cross-border continuity for clients on both sides of the Atlantic.
To steer the new company, the firms have named Martijn Blanken as Chief Executive Officer-designate, conditional on the deal’s completion. Bringing nearly 30 years of global telecom leadership experience across four continents, Blanken will officially join BT on September 1, 2026, to oversee the transition phase while adhering to regulatory guidelines. Meanwhile, Clive Selley will continue to guide BT International to ensure a steady transformation toward the new model, and Verizon’s leadership will remain unchanged.
According to leadership from both corporations, this partnership addresses the modern enterprise need for cross-border infrastructure that works seamlessly across varying cloud environments. The transaction is expected to officially close sometime in 2027, subject to customary closing conditions, necessary employee consultations, and international regulatory clearances. Until the regulatory green light is achieved, both international divisions will continue to function entirely independently of one another.
