2Q2022 Key Highlights (vs 2Q2021)
- Increased demand for Internet and Data translated to an 11.8% growth in Operating Revenue, at RM3.09 billion compared to RM2.76 billion
- Manpower and other OPEX cost optimisation contributed 81.3% EBIT growth, recorded at RM702.7 million
- PATAMI up 73.0% at RM378.0 million from RM218.5 million, as a result of higher operating profit and lower net finance cost
- Invested 15.7% of revenue in CAPEX or RM484.5 million in fibre expansion, network upgrades and support systems
- Free Cash Flow increased 36.4% at RM730.5 million, mainly attributed to increase in revenue and cost optimisation initiatives
- Interim Dividend of 9.0 sen per share declared with Dividend Reinvestment Scheme applicable (DRS)
- On track to achieve its 2022 market guidance, TM continues to strengthen core businesses while investing in new growth areas
Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) has sustained its growth trajectory, delivering an excellent set of financial results across all key metrics for the second quarter ended 30 June 2022, offering converged services and solutions and demonstrating its resilience against increasing competition from other telco and technology players.
The Group’s operating revenue grew by 11.8% to RM3.09 billion, compared to RM2.76 billion in the same quarter last year (YoY), on a foundation of strong performance across every customer segment and a sharp increase in revenue from all lines of service, particularly Internet and Data.
Optimisation efforts enabled TM to record lower manpower and other OPEX costs, which led to higher Earnings Before Interest and Taxation (EBIT), up 81.3% at RM702.7 million compared to RM387.6 million YoY.
Profit After Tax and Non-controlling Interest (PATAMI) was up 73.0% at RM378.0 million from RM218.5 million YoY, on the back of accelerated demand for connectivity, services and digital solutions. The Group applied the 33% Cukai Makmur statutory tax rate accordingly for the current quarter.
In addition to Group-wide cost optimisation initiatives, the revenue jump helped drive an increase of Free Cash Flow by 36.4% to RM730.5 million YoY, putting TM in a solid position to make future investments and further reduce debt.
TM also declared an Interim Dividend of 9.0 sen per share in line with its policy to distribute yearly dividends of 40% - 60% from its PATAMI. The DRS is applicable for this dividend tranche to provide flexibility to shareholders, enabling participation into the Group’s continuous growth momentum.
unifi: Maintaining growth momentum
As the leading convergence provider in Malaysia, unifi recorded a 10.3% revenue increase from RM1,272.0 million to RM1,402.6 million in the current quarter, driven primarily by continuous growth of fixed broadband subscribers, which recorded a 14.1% increase from the same quarter last year.
unifi continues to innovate the home entertainment landscape, rapidly adapting to consumer consumption patterns through more attractive content that can be viewed both at home via high-speed broadband as well as on mobile devices via the playTV@unifi app. Its growing content ranges from Hollywood to Hallyu, offering variety for everyone.
unifi's focus also extended to local SME businesses with the month-long #BelanjaDiSME campaign, as well as the SME Digitalisation Grant (SDG), which provides entrepreneurs with up to 50% savings for internet subscriptions and digital solutions.
TM Wholesale (TMW): Leading the charge in positioning Malaysia as a digital hub
TMW continues its march to be the nation’s preferred network infrastructure provider and to position Malaysia as a digital hub. Revenue for the current quarter increased by 26.4% from RM585.3 million YoY to RM739.9 million, contributed mainly by higher revenue from data and voice services.
TMW’s compelling performance is underpinned by escalating domestic data demand and new deals secured on the international front. It recorded the highest installation for High-Speed Broadband (HSBB) Access in June 2022, driven by mobile network operators (MNOs) and content service provider under JENDELA. TMW also delivered more than 4,500 cumulative 4G and 5G backhaul sites in supporting the MyDIGITAL blueprint for enhanced digital inclusivity nationwide.
On the international front, TMW has secured new deals with a US-based hyperscaler and a North Asian digital provider. Simultaneously, its collaborative agreement with Globe Telecom will enable its customers to enjoy superior gaming experiences, a strategic move to expand its business beyond its telco offerings.
TM One: Stronger performance amidst market challenges
The Group’s enterprise and public sector arm, TM One, recorded an increase in revenue of 4.1% YoY to RM854.6 million, with growth from recurring business across the enterprise and government sectors. Global supply chain challenges and delays, however, continued to impact its operations and subsequent delivery of several customer projects.
As the sole local provider for the Government’s MyGovCloud initiative, TM through TM One, is the only hyperscale cloud provider to offer data residency, data locality and data sovereignty for the Malaysian Government and its citizens. This eliminates potential risks from international regulations, policy interventions, or risk of Malaysian data housed beyond Malaysia’s borders.
Credence: Spearheading TM’s growth into the digital tech space
Responding to the fast-growing market demand for the digitalisation of enterprises, Credence was recently launched to drive greater levels of digital capabilities and technology skills for the Group’s corporate customers.
Established as a start-up, Credence is TM’s new cloud and digital services company, focusing on becoming a trusted technology partner to accelerate the digital transformation of large enterprises and the public sector. Leveraging TM’s existing technology partners and new ventures, Credence will also accelerate the Group’s transformation in the digital tech space.
Commentary and Outlook from Imri Mokhtar, TM Group Chief Executive Officer
“At the mid-point of 2022, our financial performance and results demonstrate TM’s ability to manage our businesses effectively despite the headwinds arising from a challenging and competitive business environment. These results are also a powerful testament of our transformation journey, and our commitment to deliver a sustainable and inclusive Digital Malaysia.
“unifi will continue its trajectory to provide converged solutions to both residential and SME customers. unifi Business, specifically, will double down on its efforts to provide new propositions to engage SME customers including promotional campaigns and financing options.
“TM One remains focused in enabling the digital transformation of the enterprise and public sectors. Complemented by its global partner ecosystem, TM One continues to make inroads on bespoke solutions engineered and supported by its in-house ICT capabilities.
“TM Wholesale is on course to provide a comprehensive suite of advanced wholesale communication services and solutions for both domestic and global fronts. TMW is poised to position Malaysia as a digital hub for the ASEAN region.
“As part of TM’s commitment to empower businesses on their digital transformational journey, the Group will also address the digital and tech skills gap through Credence. This new digital services subsidiary will deliver a differentiated advantage for enterprise digital solutions, providing greater and faster time-to-value with customised options for enterprises.
“Looking ahead, 5G will level the playing field and move the industry away from network-based to service-based competition. TM welcomes the Government’s call for the industry to take up equity stakes in DNB. 5G will open up and expand the opportunities and growth areas for all of TM’s business segments – consumers, SMEs, enterprises, wholesale as well as digital services. We look forward to rolling out 5G-enabled products and solutions and unlocking value to meet customers’ demands.
“As Malaysia’s convergence champion, we believe 5G will strengthen our convergence proposition, and our customers will be encouraged to transition to 5G in the near term.
“Ultimately, TM’s growth and differentiation, whether in 5G, fixed broadband or digitalisation, will hinge on creating and offering exceptional customer experience, as we continue on our evolution towards becoming a human-centred technology company.”
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TM stays committed to serve customers during full Movement Control Order
As an essential services provider, TM continues its operations subject to FMCO guidelines With the nation going into Full Movement Control Order (FMCO) starting 1 June 2021, Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) remains committed to serving the nation as we understand connectivity is especially crucial to our customers during this period. As the safety and health of its employees, contractors and customers continue to be the utmost priority, TM is taking the necessary precaution steps to protect their wellbeing when carrying out their tasks. With the FMCO implementation, TM will continue with Special Working Arrangements for its workforce nationwide until further guided by the Government. TM employees at the frontline and supporting critical functions are given the option of flexible working hours or split working teams. Meanwhile, other employees will continue to work from home utilising digital and online productivity tools available. TMpoint outlets and key partner stores are open for service applications and essential transactions subject to government and local authority regulations. Our service installation and restoration activities remain available for customers with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in place to ensure the safety of both TM personnel and its customers. Commenting on TM's preparedness to serve the nation during the FMCO, Shanti Jusnita Johari, Chief Marketing Officer, TM said, "As the nation's essential service provider and the enabler of Digital Malaysia, we understand the importance of getting connected as more people are working from home, participating in online learning, conducting business via online and keeping the family entertained while staying safely at home. Therefore, we are committed to ensuring all our customer support services remain in operation and taking proactive measures to monitor our network to provide uninterrupted best internet experience for homes and businesses." "As more users are at home during this period and utilisation is expected to increase, customers may need extended support to optimise their WiFi setup at home. unifi customers can book Wi-Fi optimisation services from the unifi Elite team to further enhance their internet experience at home. The first 100 slots are now complimentary and interested unifi home broadband customers can book the slot by completing the online form at unifi.com.my/bookunifielite. Existing unifi customers can also access the self-serve channels at both unifi Community and EasyFix portal which provide customers with tips and guides to tackle their usage experience issues quickly." "Our contact center remains open, primarily for assurance support. Due to the higher volume of interactions during this period, customers are encouraged to utilise our digital channels which are available 24/7 for account-related enquiries, management and payment," added Shanti. unifi currently offers #unifiyourworld that comes with up to RM200/month savings and unifi Mobile 99 is now priced at RM59/month with no contract for existing unifi customers. For business customers, they can sign up for unifi's business packages which now come with high-performance Mesh Wi-Fi and business solutions. Updates on Latest Developments of All TM Customer Service Operations during the FMCO period Digital Channels For more information, query, customer service, subscription and any support related needs, please visit www.unifi.com.my. Customers can also reach out to unifi via our digital channels as follows: myunifi app (available for Android and iOS) unifi portal – unifi.com.my unifi online community forum at community.unifi.com.my Email – help@tm.com.my Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/weareunifi/ Twitter – https://twitter.com/helpmeunifi. TMpoint All TMpoint outlets nationwide (except in Sarawak) are open following the allowed operating hours by the National Security Council and local authority regulations. Only essential transactions are available which include new service applications, payments at kiosks and collection of SIM cards. TM Contact Centres at 100, Live Chat, Social Media and e-mail Operations Hours: 7.00 a.m. to 9.00 p.m. and 24/7 for Live Chat Installations and Restorations All installation and restoration activities at customers' premises will continue with the customer's consent and verification of their household status via MySejahtera app. However, the services are not available in Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) Locality and Home Surveillance Order (HSO) zones. Payment Channels All TM Payment Kiosks at TMpoint outlets are in operation. Alternative cash payment channels are at 7-Eleven, MyNews, Speedmart 99, KK Mart, MyNews and Petronas. Alternative digital payment channels via Autopay, unifi self-care portal at unifi.com.my, myunifi app, online payment channels from any of your preferred bank via JomPAY with TM's biller codes (8888 for unifi Home, 2345 for Streamyx & Voice and 3608 for unifi Mobile) and via e-Wallet (Boost app). TM would like to wish all its customers and stakeholders a safe and healthy stay at home under the FMCO and to remind them to continue to take precautionary measures such as social distancing and good personal hygiene to curb the spread of the virus. The Company will continually monitor for developments on the ongoing situation and adapt its services to help customers, whenever needed as the safety of its employees and members of the public are of paramount importance to us.
Unifi TV kickstarts 2023 offerings with addition of popular beIN SPORTS 2, Moonbug Kids and one premium channels
Unifi, a leader in converged home, mobile and lifestyle services via its digital content arm, Unifi TV, today announced three new premium channels via partnerships with leading content providers – beIN Asia Pacific; Moonbug Entertainment, a subsidiary of Candle Media; and Korea’s KC Global Media. Starting February 2023, viewers will be able to enjoy these popular channels via their Unifi TV subscriptions: beIN SPORTS 2 – featuring top-tier European football, international tennis competitions and most recently, full Formula 1 coverage; Moonbug Kids – designed for families with pre-school children; and ONE – for fans of the latest Korean drama and entertainment. Two of the three new channels, Moonbug Kids and ONE will also be available for free preview throughout the whole of February for both existing and new Unifi TV subscribers. This brings Unifi TV’s channel offerings to a whopping 71 premium channels, along with 17 app partners including Disney+ Hotstar, Viu, WeTV and Lionsgate Play – the largest selection of streaming apps over a single platform. Ho Hock Doong, Head of Content, Unifi TV said, “We are excited to partner beIN Asia Pacific, Moonbug Entertainment, and KC Global Media in bringing their popular channels to Unifi TV and to provide more quality offerings to our local audiences. “At the end of 2022, Digital Market Insights projected that Malaysia’s Home Entertainment revenue was expected to reach an annual growth rate (CAGR 2022-2027) of 8.36%, with a projected market volume of US$48.57 million and 1.1 million active users by 2027. “With these prospects in mind, we are strengthening our partnerships with leading global content providers to offer an inclusive selection of digital entertainment solutions – bringing Unifi’s ‘all-in-one’ value proposition to all audiences,” he added. beIN SPORTS 2 will join the line-up of three existing beIN SPORTS channels as well as the beIN SPORTS CONNECT app already available on Unifi TV, offering the widest live sports coverage from beIN SPORTS in Malaysia. In addition to the Formula 1 broadcast rights which will be extended to Unifi TV viewers, the channel will also include the Australian Open, ATP and the upcoming Roland-Garros. Mike Kerr, Managing Director, beIN Asia Pacific, said, “As we continue to expand and strengthen our sports offering, we are excited to enter into the next phase of partnership with Unifi TV. Now with Formula 1, fans can immerse themselves in more live coverage than ever before on beIN SPORTS. We look forward to working alongside Unifi TV to grow our audiences in Malaysia.” Putting families in the forefront, Moonbug Kids on Unifi TV will feature all of Moonbug’s IPs including CoComelon, Blippi, Gecko’s Garage, Morphle, Arpo, Little Baby Bum and recent acquisitions Little Angel and Oddbods – offering wholesome and quality entertainment for preschool and early-years viewers. Unifi TV is also the first digital content platform in Malaysia to offer selected Moonbug Kids programmes on demand that are localised in Bahasa Melayu and Mandarin – bringing these edutainment programmes to more of Malaysia’s multi-lingual audiences. “We are extremely excited to launch our Moonbug Kids channel on Unifi TV via their on-air and online platforms. We have had a strong start to 2023 in maintaining our strategy of rolling out our content and channels across APAC and EMEA and are now very much looking forward to sharing our beloved characters and stories with families across Malaysia,” said Nicolas Eglau, Managing Director EMEA & APAC, Moonbug Entertainment. Leading K-entertainment channel, ONE, on the other hand, will bring the best of Korean entertainment to Malaysia. The channel will feature drama series Kokdu: Season of Deity within 24 hours of release in Korea and a line-up of romantic specials in February such as Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo and Backstreet Rookie. Fans of travel variety shows will also be treated to Dopojarak: Story of Homme the K-Wanderer, featuring personalities from K-pop, K-drama, fashion and sports. George Chien, Co-Founder, President, and CEO of KC Global Media shared, “We are excited to enhance our partnership with Unifi TV to bring the best entertainment from around the world to every household and mobile device in Malaysia! With the addition of ONE channel on Unifi TV, fans can look forward to an endless stream of freshly curated programming direct from South Korea’s biggest broadcasters and studios.” “These channels are quality additions to our platform and will strengthen our lifestyle offerings as part of Unifi’s Converged solutions for broadband, mobile and digital content. Our aim is to provide seamless customer experiences via extensive and affordable services that meet today’s digital demands, including online entertainment both at home and on-the-go,” Ho shared. “As we kick off 2023, we aim to continue expanding our digital content, providing more customisable, value-for-money selections together with Unifi’s other converged solutions to bring something for everyone,” he concluded.
TM Announces Upcoming Change In Chairmanship
Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM), is pleased to announce the appointment of Dato’ Zainal Abidin Putih as its new chairman effective 1 August 2023. He will succeed Tan Sri Azlan Hashim, who completes his 2-year term on 31 July 2023. Dato' Zainal Abidin brings a wealth of experience and distinguished track record in the corporate sector. He is currently Chairman of Financial Reporting Foundation (FRF), Land and General Berhad, Touch 'n Go Sdn Bhd and Tokio Marine lnsurans (Malaysia) Bhd, as well as Board Member of Khazanah Nasional Berhad and several private limited companies. He has also previously served as Chairman of Pengurusan Danaharta Nasional Berhad, CIMB Bank Berhad, Malaysian Accounting Standards Board (MASB) and President of Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA). As Chairman, Dato' Zainal Abidin will be responsible for overseeing the overall governance and strategic direction of TM. He will work closely with the Board of Directors and management team to drive TM's next wave of growth and strengthen its market position. Tan Sri Azlan, who shall complete his term as Chairman on 31 July 2023, expressed his confidence in the appointment of Dato' Zainal Abidin and stated, "I am delighted to hand over the reins to Dato' Zainal Abidin. His extensive experience and deep understanding of the corporate sector make him the ideal candidate to lead TM into its next phase of growth. I have full confidence in his ability to guide the company towards greater achievements and new horizons." Dato' Zainal Abidin expressed his gratitude for the opportunity and said, "I am honored to assume the role of Chairman of TM. I am excited to build upon the strong foundation laid by Tan Sri Azlan and work together with the Board and management team to create new opportunities and achieve even greater heights. It is an exciting time to be joining TM, especially as we build on the company's recent successes." TM extends its appreciation to Tan Sri Azlan Hashim for his invaluable contributions, dedication, and leadership during his tenure as Chairman. His vision and strategic guidance have played a pivotal role in the company's recent growth and success.