Public Interest Intervention Notice issued by Secretary of State Lisa Nandy
Published 5 October 2026
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INTERVENTION NOTICE
GIVEN PURSUANT TO SECTION 42 OF THE ENTERPRISE ACT 2002
ACQUISITION OF THE BUSINESS OF TALKTALK TELECOM GROUP LIMITED BY BT GROUP PLC
Whereas the Secretary of State has reasonable grounds for suspecting that, as a result of the acquisition by BT Group plc of Platform X Communications Limited, and/or TalkTalk Communications Limited and/or the business or assets (including any shares in subsidiary undertakings) of TalkTalk Telecom Group Limited, Platform X Communications Limited and/or TalkTalk Communications Limited, and/or any of their parent undertakings, subsidiary undertakings, and/or interconnected undertakings or any of their assignees, transferees or successors in title, it may be the case that a relevant merger situation has been created as defined in section 23(1) of the Enterprise Act 2002 (“the Act”), in that:
a. two or more enterprises have ceased to be distinct; and
b. the value of the turnover in the United Kingdom of the enterprise to be taken over exceeds £100 million.
Whereas no reference of the merger has been made under section 22 of the Act, nor has any decision been made not to make such reference, nor is such reference prevented from being made by virtue of section 22(3)(za) or (a) of the Act.
Whereas the Secretary of State believes that it is or may be the case that a public interest consideration is relevant to a consideration of the relevant merger situation.
The Secretary of State believes that it is or may be the case that:
1. the need to maintain in the United Kingdom the capability to combat, and to mitigate the effects of, public health emergencies, being a public interest consideration specified in section 58(2E) of the Act; and
2. the need to maintain in the United Kingdom the continuity of the supply of telecommunications services for the purposes of preventing disruption to the economy and society of the United Kingdom, including, in particular, disruption to
a. public services;
b. critical national infrastructure
c. supply to customers who are or may be vulnerable,
being a public interest consideration which, at the time of the giving of this intervention notice, is not specified in section 58 but, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, ought to be so specified,
are relevant to a consideration of the relevant merger situation.
Now, therefore, the Secretary of State, in exercise of her powers under section 42(2) of the Act, hereby gives this intervention notice.
Under and in accordance with section 44 of the Act, the Competition and Markets Authority is required to investigate and report by 5.00pm on 19 October 2026.
Signed
[REDACTED]
Director, Digital Infrastructure
Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
5 October 2026