Axiata has achieved cost excellence through Capex and Opex savings of RM163 million and RM78 million in Q1 2022, adding up to RM241 million in total savings.
Indonesia: Revenue increased by 9.8 percent to RM1,968.7 million, mainly due to higher data revenue, growth in the digital business and higher device sales. EBITDA grew by 3.6 percent to RM933.5 million. PAT declined by 44.2 percent to RM51.9 million, due to higher depreciation and amortisation and lower one-off gains.

Celcom sustained its positive momentum as revenue ex-device climbed 5.2 percent driven by its prepaid business and contribution from new Enterprise Solution subsidiaries. Celcom will be investing in modernizing its network coverage.

XL’s revenue ex-device increased 7.9 percent supported by higher data revenue (+10 percent), whilst EBITDA rose by 1.8 percent as a result of higher sales and marketing cost due to footprint expansion, while EBIT slipped 12.3 percent in line with network investments.

Bangladesh: Revenue rose by 3.5 percent to RM981.3 million, mainly driven by higher data revenue from growth in prepaid and postpaid businesses. EBITDA increased by 5.9 percent to RM407.7 million. PAT grew by 18.0 percent to RM19.4 million, due to higher top lines and lower taxes, partially offset by higher depreciation and amortisation and higher foreign exchange losses.

Robi’s performance in 1Q22 was moderated by aggressive competition, and revenue ex-device grew 2.0 percent on the back of higher data revenue (+14.0 percent), in tandem with higher data subscribers and usage.

Sri Lanka: Revenue grew by 7.2 percent to RM734.8 million, driven by growth across core revenue segments. EBITDA fell marginally by 0.6 percent to RM283.2 million, impacted by higher operating costs. PAT declined by more than 100 percent to a net loss of RM304.1 million, mainly due to significant foreign exchange losses of RM387.4 million.

Dialog, despite 16.6 percent increase in revenue ex-device attributed to growth across all segments of mobile, fixed broadband and TV, PATAMI flipped to a loss of LKR15.8 billion, impacted by non-cash forex loss arising from USD-denominated debt.

Nepal: Revenue fell by 9.4 percent to RM342.4 million due to revenue challenges with lower ILD contribution while voice was impacted by downward revision in interconnect rates since January 2022, partially cushioned by higher data revenue. EBITDA declined by 12 percent to RM197.2 million. PAT declined by 33.2 percent to RM44.4 million, mainly due to lower top lines, partially cushioned by lower taxes.

Cambodia: Revenue increased by 9.5 percent to RM370.4 million, driven by higher data revenue from growth in prepaid business. EBITDA grew by 8.4 percent to RM196.4 million. PAT grew by 37.2 percent to RM74.5 million due to higher top lines and lower depreciation and amortisation as there was a one-off impairment of investment amounting to RM22.0 million, net of tax in Q1’21, partly offset by higher taxes.

Smart maintained its steady performance, recording an increase of 6.3 percent in revenue ex-device on the back of growth in data contribution (+11.4 percent) in line with higher subscribers and usage. EBIT growth was muted at 2.5 percent on account of higher direct cost and D&A, while PATAMI rose 33 percent due to investment impairment of financial services business in 1Q21.

Infrastructure: Revenue increased by 19.1 percent to RM563.7 million from organic growth and contribution from new acquisition of Touch Mindscape Group in Malaysia late last year. EBITDA grew by 29.5 percent to RM392.6 million, mainly flow through from higher revenue. PAT declined marginally by 0.3 percent to RM101.4 million.