By Telecom Lead Team: SingTel has
reported 4.6 percent increase in income at S$4.83 billion in Q3 2011 against
S$4.70 billion in same quarter previous year. SingTel quarterly profit dropped
9.6 per cent due to losses at its Pakistan unit and an African telecoms company
owned by its Indian affiliate.

 

SingTel reported a net profit of
S$902 million for the quarter ended December, down 9.6 percent from S$998
million a year ago.

 

Profit from SingTel’s regional
mobile units fell 7.9 per cent to $449. Indian unit Bharti Airtel’s
contribution to earnings dropped 30 per cent because of losses at South
Africa’s Zain Telecom, which Bharti acquired in 2010. SingTel’s unit in
Pakistan posted a loss of $15 million for the quarter.

 

In Singapore, revenue rose 3 per
cent to S$1.68 billion, but EBITDA fell 7 percent to S$547 million due to
higher mobile acquisition and retention costs.

 

The strong gain in mobile customers
in Singapore during the quarter led to higher acquisition and retention costs,
while contributions from the regional mobile associates declined due to their
weaker currencies and 3G losses from Bharti India.

 

Bharti Airtel last week reported a
22 percent drop in net profit for the three months to December.

 

Bharti Airtel Q3 2011-12 income up 17%
to Rs 18,477 crore

                                                      

SingTel saw stronger contributions
from Telkomsel in Indonesia and AIS ADVA.BK in Thailand, but its Philippine
associate Globe Telecom reported lower earnings.

 

SingTel’s Australian unit, Optus,
grew operating revenue by 2 percent to A$2.42 billion while net profit for the
quarter rose 4 per cent to A$177 million.

 

This quarter, the Group recorded
healthy growth with Singapore and Australia continuing to add mobile customers.
Across their markets, our regional mobile associates have executed well against
competition,” said Chua Sock Koong, SingTel Group CEO.

 

The Group remains financially
sound, with strong cash flow generation, and solid underlying performances from
our businesses in Singapore, Australia and the regional mobile associates. We
continue to invest in innovation to enhance our multimedia and ICT capabilities
as we progress in our transformation beyond a traditional telco,” Koong added.

 

 

 

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