LONDON - BRITISH telecoms operator BT Group said on Thursday its second-quarter net profit jumped 18 per cent but that it would cut 10,000 jobs by March 2009, mostly in Britain.

BT said net profit in the three months to September totalled 400 milllion pounds (S$937 million) as sales rose 4.1 per cent to 5.3 billion pounds.

The company said its BT Retail, BT Wholesale and Openreach businesses were in line with or above targets but its international services were not good enough and it was taking action to remedy the problems.

Accordingly, it would cut 10,000 jobs by the end of March - 4,000 from among its own staff and 6,000 from among its sub-contractors and consultants.

BT has a workforce of 160,000. -- AFP