TalkTalk races to sell its two arms 'imminently' as MoD security fears mount over looming administration

From the Newshound archive · first published 25 September 2026 · last updated 26 September 2026.

Britain's fourth-largest broadband provider TalkTalk is in the final stages of selling its consumer arm to Opus Broadband for £100 million and its wholesale network PXC to Octopus Investments, as the spectre of administration threatens 1.5 million customers and national security alike. The government has been in direct contact with the company given that critical MoD infrastructure is partly dependent on TalkTalk's systems. Sir Charles Dunstone and his fellow investors face writing off around £1 billion even if the deals succeed, having already pumped £350 million in emergency funding into the business over the last two years.

Among TalkTalk's customers are upwards of 250,000 vulnerable households, elderly residents dependent on personal alarms included.

If administration strikes and no buyer emerges, Ofcom has asked BT to stand by to absorb TalkTalk's retail customers.

Octopus Investments is reported to have walked away from the £300 million PXC wholesale deal, sharply raising the collapse risk.