Changes

== History ==

== History ==

BT Group is probably the oldest telecommunications services company in the world, founded in 1846 in London. The company was created alongside other important companies, like the Electric Telegraph Company, the first commercial telegraphy services. Some of the telecommunications companies from that time were taken over, some collapsed, and the remaining companies were merged and renamed into British Telecommunications. Still, British Telecommunications was transferred to state control, and placed under the supervison of the Post Office. Between 1869 and 1969 the name British Telecommunications was not present on the market; it was first under the General Post Office name, and in the second part of that period it was known as Post Office Telecommunications.  

BT Group is the oldest telecommunications services company in the world, founded in 1846 in London. The company was created alongside other important companies, like the Electric Telegraph Company, the first commercial telegraphy services. Some of the telecommunications companies from that time were taken over, some collapsed, and the remaining companies were merged and renamed into British Telecommunications. Still, British Telecommunications was transferred to state control, and placed under the supervison of the Post Office. Between 1869 and 1969 the name British Telecommunications was not present on the market; it was first under the General Post Office name, and in the second part of that period it was known as Post Office Telecommunications.  

In 1980, a committee decided to rename the Post Office Telecommunications as British Telecom, but it still remained part of the Post Office. In 1981, two separate corporations were formed, taking away the responsibility for the telecommunications services from the Post Office. In 1982, the British government decided to sell 51% of the shares of British Telecom to private investors, in a privatization attempt. The operation went through in 1984. By the end of that year, all of the shares auctioned were sold to private investors. In December, 1991, the British Government reduced the shares they owned in British Telecom from 47.6% to 21.8%, selling the 26,8% of shares to interested investors. In July, 1993, British Telecom gained approximately 750,000 new shareholders as the British Government sold the remaining shares it had for the sum of 5 billion British pounds.  

In 1980, a committee decided to rename the Post Office Telecommunications as British Telecom, but it still remained part of the Post Office. In 1981, two separate corporations were formed, taking away the responsibility for the telecommunications services from the Post Office. In 1982, the British government decided to sell 51% of the shares of British Telecom to private investors, in a privatization attempt. The operation went through in 1984. By the end of that year, all of the shares auctioned were sold to private investors. In December, 1991, the British Government reduced the shares they owned in British Telecom from 47.6% to 21.8%, selling the 26,8% of shares to interested investors. In July, 1993, British Telecom gained approximately 750,000 new shareholders as the British Government sold the remaining shares it had for the sum of 5 billion British pounds.