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Key Highlights of 1H2018:
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Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) today announced its financial results for the first half of the year ended 30 June 2018. The Group posted revenue of RM5.78 billion year-to-date, 2.7% lower from RM5.94 billion in the corresponding period last year. This was primarily due to a decline in voice, data and other telecommunication related services as well as provisions recognised against wholesale revenue impacted by regulatory mandated access pricing.
Group Reported Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation (EBITDA) for 1H2018 was RM1.61 billion as compared to RM1.80 billion in 1H2017 mainly due to the lower revenue. Stripping off non-operational items, such as unrealised forex loss on trade settlement, Group Normalised EBITDA was 13.9% lower, at RM1.60 billion.
Group Reported Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) for 1H2018 was RM444.5 million as compared to RM560.9 million in 1H2017. Stripping off some non-operational items, in particular unrealised foreign exchange loss on international trade settlement, normalised EBIT stood at RM433.0 million.
Group Reported Profit After Tax and Non-controlling Interests (PATAMI) was at RM259.1 million, whilst Group Normalised PATAMI was RM261.1 million, after setting aside non-operational items such as unrealised forex impact on borrowings and international trade settlements.
Datuk Bazlan Osman, Acting Group Chief Executive Officer, TM said: "The first six months of 2018 has been very challenging for us, from rapid developments in the market to increasing regulatory pressures. Given the current landscape, these events further add challenges to our financial performance. Being cognizant of the potential impact to TM, we had revised our 2018 Headline KPIs as well as Capex guidance in early July 2018. Alongside this revision, we also launched our Performance Improvement Programme (PIP 2018) as a broad initiative to overcome the headwinds. The PIP 2018 is guided by four (4) main pillars - Revenue Uplift, Sustained Profitability, Improved Cash Flow and Increased Productivity. We expect the regulatory and sector challenges to persist in the near-to-midterm and undertaking these PIP 2018 initiatives are necessary measures to ensure the sustainability of our business for the long term."
The total capital expenditure (CAPEX) for 1H2018 amounted to RM710 million or equivalent to 12.3% of revenue. Of the total capex investment, 18% was allocated for Core Network, 59% was for Access, and the balance 23% for Support Systems.
“Delivering convergence and going digital remains our priority. We will continue to focus on growth, yet be more prudent in our spending and sweat our existing assets. As such, we are also revising our capex guidance for the full year to 19 – 20% of revenue.”
“We currently have 2.30 million broadband customers and in terms of convergence, we saw more customers moving up the value chain with having triple-play services and above, evidenced by our convergence penetration now at 47% compared to just 37% in 2Q 2017,” he added.
At the media briefing, TM also announced that its unifi Basic plan, which is a 60GB broadband-only unifi plan will now be extended to everyone beginning September 2018 (no longer exclusive for households with income of less than RM4,500 per month).
“Affordability and accessibility of quality highspeed broadband services is important to TM, and we are committed to lead the charge to unlock the potential of a digitally-savvy Malaysia. As such, we are happy to announce that we are extending the unifi basic plan to all,” he concluded.
Comparison: Quarter-on-Quarter (2Q2018 vs 1Q2018 Results)
For the current quarter under review, Group Revenue stood at RM2.94 billion, higher by 3.1% QoQ mainly attributed to an increase in data, internet and other telecommunication related services.
Group EBITDA rose 10.3% QoQ to RM845.9 million from RM766.7 million the previous quarter. Stripping off non-operational items, such as unrealised forex loss on trade settlement, Group Normalised EBITDA was 5.9% higher, at RM823.4 million.
Group EBIT grew by 27.2% QoQ to RM248.9 million from RM195.6 million in 1Q2018. On a normalised basis, EBIT improved by 9.6% QoQ to RM226.4 million from RM206.6 million in 1Q2018.
Group PATAMI was at RM102.0 million, lower by 35.1% QoQ from RM157.1 million in the preceding quarter, whilst Group Normalised PATAMI was RM155.8 million QoQ, higher by 48.0% QoQ, after setting aside non-operational items such as unrealised foreign exchange impact on borrowings and international trade settlements.
Comparison: Year-on-Year (2Q2018 vs 2Q2017 Results)
For the current quarter under review, Group Revenue stood at RM2.94 billion, lower by 1.5% YoY mainly due to voice and data services.
Group EBIT stood at RM248.9 million, lower by 3.2% YoY from RM257.1 million in 2Q2017. On a normalised basis, EBIT was lower by 25.6% YoY to RM226.4 million from RM304.5 million in 2Q2017.
Group PATAMI stood at RM102.0 million, less 51.5% as compared to 2Q2017; whilst Normalised PATAMI also decreased 25.1% YoY to RM155.8 million from RM208.0 million in 2Q2017.
Prospects for the Current Financial Year Ending 31 December 2018
The recent regulatory challenges and market environment have had major impact to the overall revenue estimates and earnings of TM Group in the current quarter. TM anticipates that the challenging environment will persist for both of our retail and wholesale segments. In the midst of these challenges, TM will continue our focus towards strengthening performance of our core business and operations.
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TM and Huawei seal strategic partnership to further enhance malaysia’s broadband reach and digital economy
As pioneers in the rollout of high speed broadband in the country, Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) and Huawei Technologies (M) Sdn Bhd (Huawei) are once again collaborating for the betterment of broadband and digital economy for the nation. The companies recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for both parties to work hand-in-hand in multiple collaboration activities, leveraging on each other’s core expertise and capabilities to accelerate fibre broadband network reach, in line with the Government’s move to drive Malaysia’s digital economy. The collaboration will leverage on the combined strengths and capabilities of both companies to further accelerate national broadband reach and leap-frog the adoption of a connected digital lifestyle and the Internet of Things (IOTs) amongst Malaysians. Via the strategic partnership, both TM and Huawei will play a more proactive developmental role in providing ready infrastructure and ecosystem to support the nation’s growth. The MoU was signed by Datuk Bazlan Osman, Executive Director / Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer, TM and Foo Fang Yong, Vice President of Huawei Technologies (M) Sdn Bhd. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Dato’ Sri Mohammed Shazalli Ramly, Managing Director / Group Chief Executive Officer, TM and Baker Zhou, Chief Executive Officer of Huawei Technologies (M) Sdn Bhd. Commenting on the partnership, Dato’ Sri Mohammed Shazalli Ramly said, “We are indeed excited to be working hand in hand with a leading global name such as Huawei to accelerate the offering of digital services and solutions to the nation thus further support the Government’s aspirations of digital economy. As the trusted partner in key nation-building initiatives, TM ensures the safety and security of the nation's strategic and critical infrastructure, and in accelerating the broadband reach for all Malaysians. We believe that strategic collaborations such as this MoU is yet another testament of our role as the country’s key enabler for the national communications infrastructure.” Meanwhile, Baker Zhou said: “Telekom Malaysia and Huawei have been working hand-in-hand for 15 years. In the past 15 years, we have worked together to connect more people than ever before. We are now at the crossroads of digital transformation. With today's MoU, we can share more, innovate better, and work more closely than ever before. Huawei will fully support TM’s vision of “Making Life and Business Easier”, and will work together with TM to building a better connected and intelligent Malaysia.” The inking of the MoU marks the parties’ commitment to collaborate to deliver digital solutions for businesses and public sector, explore innovative solutions for network optimisation and implement initiatives that will capture TM customers’ share of moments. The MoU also envisages other areas across TM Group of Companies including network and technology planning, exploration of innovative business model for unifi, transformation of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to enhance overall efficiency of TM’s IT and Business support platform, smart device cooperation, establishment of Multimedia University (MMU) Smart Campus model and knowledge sharing on innovative technology. According to the MoU, Huawei will share its extensive global best practices to help TM capitalise emerging opportunities quickly through big data aided network design and deployment, intelligent Smart Capex solution to respond fast to TM customer needs, and simplify business engagement between both organisations via inter-connecting IT processes. Through this strategic partnership, TM aspires to pursue the innovation and commercialisation of technology which includes Internet of Things (IoTs), cloud technology and artificial intelligence towards delivering digital experience to more Malaysians nationwide. TM will also explore alternative wireless technology deployment to further expand high speed broadband reach across Malaysia; bridging the digital divide and meeting the Government’s objective of a truly connected society. The MoU is subject to a definitive agreement to be signed between the parties in specific areas. Further announcements will be made in due course, as and when appropriate.
Sultan Perak launches Telegraph Museum in Taiping, Perak
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unifi choices for different home needs and affordability
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