25 May 2023
TM Records a Promising 1Q2023 Performance with 2.0% Revenue Growth; Continues to Strengthen its Core Business
1Q2023 Key Highlights (vs 1Q2022)
· Operating Revenue grew 2.0% from RM2.89 billion to RM2.95 billion, with continuous growth across Unifi and TM Global
· EBIT decreased 15.5% from RM560.4 million to RM473.3 million, following accelerated depreciation and impairment
· PATAMI lower 2.9% from RM339.9 million to RM330.1 million, lower EBIT cushioned by lower net finance cost and effective tax rate
· CAPEX investment stood at 14.0% of revenue or RM413.1 million, heavily attributed to fibre network expansion
Amidst the challenges for the year, Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) achieved a steady and promising performance in the first quarter that ended on 31 March 2023, compared to the same period in the previous year (YoY).
Operating revenue grew 2.0% to RM2.95 billion, from RM2.89 billion in 2022, driven by Unifi and TM Global. TM saw an increase in customers with Unifi now serving close to 3.5 million home and MSME customers, TM One catering to 8,800 businesses, and TM Global serving more than 700 local and regional customers.
Its reported Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) is lower 15.5% to RM473.3 million, from RM560.4 million, following the Group’s decision to accelerate depreciation and impairment of IT assets, due to changes in market conditions.
Profit After Tax and Minority Interest (PATAMI) decreased 2.9% to RM330.1 million from RM339.9 million. Lower net finance cost and lower effective tax rate from the recognition of deferred tax assets mitigated the impact of the lower EBIT on the Group’s overall profitability.
Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) stood at 14.0% of overall revenue, or RM413.1 million. A significant portion of this investment was dedicated to fortifying its fibre infrastructure, delivering new customer acquisition, international subsea cables investment and 5G fibre network deployment to meet Government’s target of 80% coverage by year end.
Unifi sustaining growth trajectory
Unifi continues to deliver leadership in convergence service and solutions for both home and MSMEs customers. Unifi reported a 1Q2023 revenue growth of 4.3% from RM1.38 billion to RM1.44 billion contributed by both, growth in number of subscribers and average revenue per customer (ARPC).
Unifi fixed broadband subscription increased by 8.1% to 3.08 million propelled by aggressive sales, and promotions such as the 6-months complimentary speed upgrade offered to existing Unifi Home users and 7-days free viewing of all Unifi TV channels during Chinese New Year.
Unifi Mobile unveiled its latest offerings, the UNI5G prepaid and postpaid plans, which include complimentary 5G access for all current mobile subscribers. Additionally, Unifi introduced the Pakej Perpaduan Jalur Lebar Tetap (Home Internet) and Pakej Perpaduan Prabayar Mudah Alih (Prepaid Mobile) plans specifically designed for underserved communities, providing inclusive and ubiquitous connectivity for the community.
Unifi Business’ collaborative efforts with local government agencies have been instrumental in supporting MSMEs to digitally grow their businesses. As part of this initiative, Unifi Business launched a programme in Sabah that has resulted in a significant participation of local entrepreneurs.
TM One navigating challenging market and shifting demand
TM One recorded a 6.7% slowdown in revenue from RM773.7 million to RM721.9 million in the current quarter, largely due to the impact of price reduction and lower revenue from one-off customer projects.
The delivery of key projects across several industries shall set the pace for TM One in the coming quarters. TM One delivered a Private 5G solution to enable Smart Industry solutions and completed a hybrid cloud project that is instrumental to the IT backbone transformation of its customer. TM is also the only telco with a 100% completion record for the Point of Presence (POP) Phase 1 Project, successfully delivering 233 sites across the northern states, Sabah and Sarawak.
Building on the success of TM One 5G Sphere Partner Programme launched end of 2022 where more than 90 leading partners are registered today, TM One launched its Sandbox platform providing a secure and controlled environment for enterprise and Government customers with technology partners to co-create and commercialise innovative smart service solutions, which will propel their digitalisation and automation drive.
TM Global catalysing digital inclusivity
TM Global reported continuous growth in 1Q2023, with revenue increasing by 3.9% from RM625.1 million to RM649.2 million, contributed by higher data and data centre co-location services.
As the leading partner for High-Speed Broadband Access (HSBA), TM Global achieved the highest number of new installations in March, supporting collective industry growth throughout Malaysia. Additionally, close to 8,000 4G and 5G fiberisation site were deployed to meet the growing demands of industry players and enhance nationwide edge capabilities, further propelling national digital initiatives.
Internationally, TM Global secured deals from US-based hyperscaler and North Asia digital provider for its wholesale data centre solutions as well as a substantial deal from ASEAN telecommunication player for more than 10Tbps data requirement within this region. TM Global remains focused on positioning Malaysia as the preferred digital hub for the ASEAN region through its comprehensive and customised offerings for hyperscalers, global carriers and digital players.
Commentary and Outlook from Dato’ Imri Mokhtar, TM Group Chief Executive Officer
“2023 is expected to be a challenging year with changes in the regulatory landscape, heightened competition and other market structure changes. TM will continue strengthening its core business to be commercially sustainable as a Public Listed Company (PLC) whilst continuing to contribute to the nation’s growth via its role as a Government Linked Company (GLC).
“As the national connectivity and digital infrastructure provider, TM will continue to execute the fiberisation plan to support the Government’s National Digital Network (JENDELA) programmes as well as the 5G rollout nationwide. TM looks forward to continue playing an active role in the 5G implementation, leveraging its nationwide fibre infrastructure, extensive digital platforms (data centres, edge nodes) and rollout experience.
“We remain steadfast as we enter the final year of our 2021-2023 Transformation Programme, and pursue the next wave of growth beyond 2023. In line with our journey to become a human-centred TechCo, we announced the launch of TM’s new HQ and Campus, located in Cyberjaya. The campus will serve as a catalyst for a new way of working that drives agility and flexibility through digital collaboration and hybrid work environment, propelling innovation among our employees, customers and partners.
“We will continue to advocate sustainability efforts and strive for progress. TM has released our first Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) report, 2 years ahead of Bursa Malaysia’s 2025 requirement. The report focuses on increasing transparency around the financial implications of an organisations’ climate-related risks and opportunities.
“Though cautious with the overall outlook, we remain optimistic with the prospects of increased hyperconnectivity, continuous growth investments in connectivity and digitalisation across all customer segments. TM will continue to enable a Digital Malaysia by offering comprehensive suite of communication services and digital solutions benefitting communities, businesses and Government.”
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TM ONE AND SARAWAK DIGITAL ECONOMY CORPORATION (SDEC) BERHAD EXTEND COLLABORATION TO SPUR STATE’S DIGITAL ECONOMY
KUALA LUMPUR & KUCHING, 26 DECEMBER 2024 – TM One, TM’s enterprise and government sector solutions arm, and Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation Berhad (SDEC) have announced the next phase in their strategic partnership to elevate Sarawak’s digital economy, digital society, and government services through enhanced connectivity. The parties recently exchanged a master service agreement to expand Sarawak’s digital infrastructure, aimed at enhancing connectivity and accelerating the adoption of advanced technologies and smart services in driving the state’s digital transformation. The collaboration aligns with the Sarawak Digital Economy Strategy and Post-COVID Development Strategy 2030. This collaboration includes TM One’s Metro-E solution, a flexible, secure, and high-performance bandwidth connectivity scalable to up to 10 Gbps. Its dedicated access for critical applications, proactive security monitoring and nationwide coverage addresses the service levels needed for enterprises and government agencies alike. Shazurawati Abd Karim, TM One’s Executive Vice President, said, “We are pleased to partner with SDEC in advancing Sarawak’s digital transformation. The Metro-E project will bolster Sarawak’s digital economy, fostering innovation, improving access to digital services and bridging the digital divide across locations. High-speed connectivity at these 81 sites is essential for the adoption of advanced technologies, improving customer experiences and operational efficiency. This collaboration solidifies TM One’s commitment to Sarawak’s sustainable long-term growth and digital aspirations, aligning with the state’s 2030 strategies.” The five-year project will also deliver high-speed internet connectivity to underserved and rural areas, supporting key sectors such as education, healthcare, and local businesses. This will facilitate cloud computing, telemedicine, online education, and a variety of other digital solutions, furthering Sarawak’s digital progress. The partnership reaffirms TM One and SDEC’s commitment to transform Sarawak, empowering local communities and businesses, as well as enhancing government services through digital technologies. This collaboration is another milestone in TM’s commitment to enabling Malaysia’s digital transformation and to lead industry growth through digitalisation and sustainability, a pivotal part in TM’s efforts towards becoming a Digital Powerhouse by 2030.
Innovating Malaysia's healthcare through 5G and digital solutions
TM One’s 5G and digital infrastructure reflects its commitment to enable smart hospitals and remote care capabilities TM One, the enterprise and public sector business solutions arm of Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) recently previewed the innovative future of Malaysia’s healthcare sector, powered by 5G technology and digital solutions. Collaborating with Siemens Healthineers Malaysia, TM One shared its vision at the inaugural 5G in Healthcare Symposium, organised by the Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM), where they showcased next-level innovations for the healthcare system, made possible by 5G connectivity. This gathering of healthcare providers highlighted the multiple benefits gained from digital transformation in the sector, including enhanced patient care and operational efficiencies, among others. The digitalisation of this essential sector has also proven to be particularly timely and effective in delivering health care during and post pandemic. Shazurawati Abd Karim, Executive Vice President of TM One explained the significance of 5G to Malaysian healthcare, stating that: “5G will positively impact the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), and enable life-saving medical innovations that reflect the needs of a post pandemic society. This includes remote medical learning and remote patient monitoring, among others. Together with our partners, which includes global technology companies as well as leading local companies, we are primed and ready to help Malaysia’s private hospitals co-create solutions that will save lives and bring value to their stakeholders.” “Aside from real-time speed and breakthrough connectivity, today’s digital healthcare ecosystems depend on robust and secure infrastructure essentials. Collecting and sharing of digital patient records and hospital data requires world-class data security to mitigate cyber threats and to comply with stringent regulatory requirements. TM One’s services can be integrated with private 5G networks and offers enhanced data protection and encryption to safeguard both patients and hospitals. This will encourage patients towards adopting digital healthcare services, potentially enabling them to seek treatment earlier and save lives,” she said. Amongst the technologies demonstrated was VRAR (virtual reality/augmented reality) using a Microsoft HoloLens device, which utilises mixed-reality experiences with 3D data processing, analytics, visualisation, and simulation applications. This technology aims to humanise the diagnosis and treatment identification process and will improve the productivity of healthcare personnel by accelerating their time-to-diagnosis, surgical accuracy and reduce time-to-care which will result in improving overall patient experience. TM One also showcased a virtual medical consultation solution powered by REMEDi, a digital healthcare technology developer. Through high-speed, low-latency 5G, the solution will provide enhanced video images and sound quality for safer diagnosis of patients and effective troubleshooting. In addition, this solution can be conveniently deployed anywhere, matching the current shift towards online examinations and telemedicine. Speaking about the event, Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh, President of APHM said, “The 5G in Healthcare Symposium was a great platform for our partners, TM One and Siemens Healthineers to demonstrate the future of Malaysia’s private healthcare, providing a guide on how to transform hospitals by leveraging 5G. This sharing was truly valuable to the symposium participants.” “Having these esteemed digital leaders provided a clearer idea to the industry of how they can transform their institutions. We are both excited by the potential offered by 5G technology and confident of the expert support offered by our partners as the industry continues its digital transformation journey in delivering superior healthcare service to our patients,” he enthused. Rod Frazer, Managing Director of Siemens Healthineers in Malaysia commented, "The opportunity to aggregate healthcare data and leverage this to support the day-to-day decisions of patients and clinicians is the game changer in healthcare delivery and cost effectiveness. To shape this future, it is vital not only to work on ideas that will change the way we think about the healthcare sector in the long term but also to identify current developments such as 5G connectivity, which has the potential to transform the market. Siemens Healthineers is excited to collaborate on this initiative with APHM and TM One to facilitate such discussions in the country.” TM One’s suite of robust and secured digital infrastructure solutions enable organisations to harness the power of AI and IR 4.0 to take their transformation forward. TM’s recent partnership with Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) to provide extensive fibre coverage for DNB’s 5G network emphasises its commitment to provide 5G infrastructure to support the digital aspiration of all Malaysians, including the digitalisation the nation’s private healthcare industry to support the vitality and wellbeing of the rakyat. For more details about TM One Healthcare solutions, visit www.tmone.com.my/industry/healthcare/
Enabling greater digital inclusivity for Malaysians through Pakej Perpaduan Jalur Lebar Tetap
Following Minister of Communications and Digital, YB Fahmi Fadzil’s announcement on the Pakej Perpaduan Jalur Lebar Tetap (Fixed Internet Broadband) yesterday, Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) is committed to support the Government’s aim to bring hyperconnectivity to key target communities. Focusing on segments most in need particularly B40, the elderly, OKU, army-police veterans, the delivery of Pakej Perpaduan Jalur Lebar Tetap aligns with TM’s aspiration to empower a Digital Malaysia and meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly to promote inclusive and sustainable digital industrialization and innovation (Goal 9), as well as to reduce inequalities and empower social and economic inclusion for all (Goal 10). As a responsible corporate organisation, TM has a social accountability to making a positive impact for the community. Furthermore, the initiative will strengthen the nation’s digital inclusivity and bring digital access and opportunities to all layers of society. “Pakej Perpaduan comes at a crucial point of the nation’s recovery and complements other national initiatives such as Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah and Payung Rahmah to ensure a better quality of life for these communities. This serves as another means to combat the rising cost of living and keeps us on track to building Malaysia’s digital economy, despite the challenges anticipated,” said Dato’ Imri Mokhtar, TM’s Group Chief Executive Officer. “Bringing the power of the internet to underprivileged individuals and families facilitates their right to resources and knowledge online, gives them the opportunity to leverage on digital platform to run online business and can serve as a critical stepping stone for them to improve their lives. “While the Pakej Perpaduan Jalur Lebar Tetap enables more affordable, unlimited fixed broadband and brings savings of RM480 to every eligible household, this complements the announced Pakej Perpaduan Prabayar Mudah Alih (prepaid mobile) in bringing ubiquitous connectivity for the key target individuals and household members. Both of these services will be offered through Unifi Home and Unifi Mobile respectively. This also reinforces TM’s Fixed-Mobile Convergence leadership, offering integrated fixed broadband, mobile services, data services, digital content and innovative solutions to every Malaysian, businesses and the Government”, he further added. Gearing up for the March 2023 start and availability for sign up until December 2023, TM will be working closely with the Ministry of Communication and Digital to fine tune the package details and rollout, ensuring the initiative effectively reaches its target communities. Dato’ Imri concluded, “We are committed to be working on this initiative as it goes beyond providing services but speaks to our vision of becoming a human-centered TechCo – leveraging technologies to provide equal opportunities for every Malaysian. While we have continued to invest in our commercial growth and sustainability as a PLC, as the nation’s leading fibre provider and a GLC, we are uniquely positioned to serve the nation’s interest more directly and to bring greater impact to even more diverse communities.”
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