CelcomDigi Bhd chief executive Datuk Idham Nawawi
KUALA LUMPUR: CelcomDigi Bhd
said its network integration and modernisation efforts are now close to 70% complete, with over 10,500 sites modernised as at end-October 2024.
In its third-quarter performance report, it said more than 65% of its customers are benefiting from improved quality of experience on the new CelcomDigi intelligent network.
The company aims to complete 75% of network upgrades by end of 2024, ahead of its target, it added.
In the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2023, CelcomDigi posted a net profit of RM436.98mil, down from RM455.72mil in the year-ago quarter for a lower earnings per share of 3.72 sen compared to 3.88 sen previously.
The telco reported a revenue of RM3.13bil compared to RM3.1bil in the comparative quarter.
The board of directors declared a third interim dividend of 3.6 sen per share, going ex on Dec 5, 2024, and payable on Dec 23, 2024.
During the quarter, CelcomDigi's postpaid subscribers grew 92,000 quarter-on-quarter (q-o-q) and 377,000 year-on-year (y-o-y) to 5.71 million subscribers.
Postpaid revenue rose 0.7% q-o-q and 3% y-o-y to RM1.05bil, driven by an expanding subscriber base, multiple lines subscriptions, and prepaid-to-postpaid migration.
The prepaid segment contracted by 105,000 q-o-q and 775,000 y-o-y to 12.84 million subscribers.
Revenue from the segment likewise fell 1.4% q-o-q and 4.4% y-o-y to RM1.1bil due to a dual SIM consolidation and a strategic decision to reduce reliance on one-time rotational SIM segment.
The average revenue per user (ARPU) stood at RM28.
Meanwhile, the home and fibre segment saw continued subscriber growth of 19,000 q-o-q and 58,000 y-o-y to 159,000 subscribers. Arpu rose to RM109 on higher take-up of premium speed plans.
There was a decline in enterprise revenue by 2.2% q-o-q and 3.3% y-o-y to RM296mil, mainly owing to the decline in mobile revenue.
Over the nine months period to Sept 30, 2024, CelcomDigi recorded a net profit of RM1.22bil compared to RM1.12bil in 9MFY23, while revenue was little changed at RM9.4bil compared to RM9.41bil in the year-ago period.
CEO Datuk Idham Nawawi said it is encouraging that there is a clear and growing interest in AI and emerging tech solutions among enterprises.
"Through our AI Experience Centre (AiX) we are actively exploring these opportunities by implementing proofs-of-concept and pilots to accelerate adoption.
"As we transform to become an AI-first company, we continue to invest in innovation and ‘beyond connectivity’ solutions as our growth engine.
"Our priority remains in delivering robust and efficient 4G/5G connectivity services and AI solutions to consumers and enterprises, and advance the nation’s development into a 5G-AI powered digital society,” he said in a statement.
