TOT swings to profit after slashing costs

TOT swings to profit after slashing costs

TOT Plc enjoyed a stellar financial performance in the first four months of this year, the first positive sign of a successful turnaround by the state telecom.

A cost reduction of nearly 30% led the effort.

"The better-than-expected improvement in performance will assure our prospective private partners in strategic projects," said Gen Surapong Suwana-adth, TOT's chairman.

TOT posted a net profit of 152 million baht in the first four months compared with a heavy loss of 1.7 billion in the same period last year.

But consolidated revenue fell by 20% to 12.2 billion baht in the first four months, as TOT can no longer book revenue related to concessions.

Gen Surapong attributed the sharp improvement in the company's financial performance to a 26% reduction in operating expenses and a 38% cut in service costs as management carried out efficiency strategies.

"We expect overall consolidated revenue will reach 33.3 billion baht in 2015, up from 29 billion last year," he said.

The fixed-line broadband business will be a major revenue source, contributing 11.2 billion baht this year.

Board director Djitt Laowattana said TOT had set up two working panels.

The first is to handle possible effects after TOT's 2G mobile concession expires in September and the transfer of mobile network assets.

The other is to deal with existing disputes between TOT and its concessionaires, especially mobile leader Advanced Info Service Plc (AIS).

"We expect all existing disputes with AIS to reach a win-win conclusion by October, before the planned 4G spectrum auctions take place in November and December," Mr Djitt said.

AIS has 42.5 million subscribers, 39 million of whom are 3G customers on the 2100-megahertz spectrum.

The company's remaining 3.5 million subscribers are 2G users on the 900-MHz network under a concession agreement with TOT.

TOT plans to select a few private mobile companies as strategic partners by next month.

While acknowledging AIS as a potential partner, Mr Djitt said TOT wanted to have at least two.

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