BROADBAND COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS – AUSTRALIA

NBN bleeds as revenue targets prove elusive

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Original article by James Fernyhough
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 7-May-19

NBN Co has advised that it recorded revenue of $2 billion for the nine months to 31 March, although it posted a net loss of $3.4 billion for the period. As of March, 8.8 million Australian households were ready to connect to the NBN, with fibre-to-the-node the most common form of connection technology. NBN has set an average revenue per user target of $51 per month by 2022, but its ARPU is currently only $45 per month, up from $44 a year ago. NBN Co may need to seek a bailout from the federal government if it does not meet this target.

CORPORATES
NBN CO LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Telcos slam NBN’s marketing push

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Original article by James Fernyhough
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 18 : 26-Mar-19

Telcos such as TPG Telecom have accused NBN Co of targeting their business customers. Their view is that NBN Co is meant to be a wholesaler and it should not be having direct contact with end users. The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission has observed that NBN Co is permitted to directly promote its services to end users, but that it is not permitted to recommend retail service providers to end users. The ACCC’s view has been backed up by the federal government.

CORPORATES
TPG TELECOM LIMITED – ASX TPM, NBN CO LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, COLES GROUP LIMITED – ASX COL, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, MACQUARIE TELECOM GROUP LIMITED – ASX MAQ

TPG calls for reduction in damaging NBN price

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Original article by James Fernyhough
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 14 & 20 : 20-Mar-19

TPG Telecom has posted a 2018-19 interim net profit of $47.4m, which is 76.3 per cent lower than previously. The result was marred by a write-down associated with a decision to shelve plans for its own mobile network. TPG has advised that earnings from its core residential fixed-line broadband business fell 4.8 per cent to $243m during the half-year. CFO Craig Levy has warned that TPG will have to scrap its entry-level national broadband network plan unless NBN Co reduces its wholesale prices for budget plans.

CORPORATES
TPG TELECOM LIMITED – ASX TPM, NBN CO LIMITED, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, NEW STREET RESEARCH, GOLDMAN SACHS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, VODAFONE AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION

Labor mulls NBN write-down trigger

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Original article by John Kehoe, Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 10 : 4-Feb-19

The Opposition’s communications spokeswoman Michelle Rowland says Labor has no plans at this stage to sell the NBN should it win the upcoming federal election. However, she says Labor has not ruled out a write-down of the NBN’s value. Such a strategy would reduce the NBN’s financial targets, which would allow it to reduce broadband wholesale charges to telcos such as Telstra and Optus, which in turn would potentially lead to lower prices for consumers.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, NBN CO LIMITED, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, VODAFONE AUSTRALIA LIMITED, TPG TELECOM LIMITED – ASX TPM, STANDARD AND POOR’S (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD, GILBERT AND TOBIN LAWYERS, TELSYTE PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE

NBN Co to pay telcos $25 for every missed appointment

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: Online : 13-Sep-18

NBN Co has provided a court-enforceable undertaking to the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission regarding missed or late appointments by its technicians. It will pay a rebate of $25 to retail service providers (RSPs) such as Telstra, TPG Telecom and Vodafone Hutchison Australia every time an appointment is missed or a technician is late. Under the terms of the undertaking, the RSPs are expected to take "reasonable steps" to ensure their customers receive some form of benefit as a result of the improved rebates.

CORPORATES
NBN CO LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, TPG TELECOM LIMITED – ASX TPM, VODAFONE HUTCHISON AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, VOCUS GROUP LIMITED – ASX VOC, SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD

TPG bulks up ahead of 5G mobile race

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Original article by Supratim Adhikari
The Australian – Page: 17 & 20 : 31-Aug-18

The merged TPG Telecom and Vodafone Hutchison Australia will boast eight million customers and revenue in excess of $6bn. TPG founder David Teoh will have a 17 per cent stake in the combined group, while Vodafone’s existing parent companies Vodafone Group and CK Hutchison Holdings will jointly own 50.1 per cent of the new company. The $15bn deal will be closely scrutinised by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission, which will examine factors such as its impact on the mobile and fixed broadband markets, as well as the forthcoming auction of 5G spectrum.

CORPORATES
TPG TELECOM LIMITED – ASX TPM, VODAFONE HUTCHISON AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, VODAFONE GROUP PLC, CK HUTCHISON HOLDINGS LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, WASHINGTON H SOUL PATTINSON AND COMPANY LIMITED – ASX SOL, VERTIUM ASSET MANAGEMENT

TPG, Vodafone set for merger of equals as Telstra and Optus put on notice

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Original article by Bridget Carter
The Australian – Page: 17 & 28 : 30-Aug-18

The merger between TPG Telecom and Vodafone Hutchison Australia, to be announced on 30 August, may affect the amount the federal government raises from its upcoming auction of 5G spectrum. Vodafone will control 50.1 per cent of the combined company, which will boast a market capitalisation of around $10bn. Vodafone CEO Inaki Berroeta will take on the same role at the merged group, with TPG CEO David Teoh to become chairman. TPG shares have rallied in the last week, with the stock closing $0.28 higher at $7.88 on 29 August.

CORPORATES
TPG TELECOM LIMITED – ASX TPM, VODAFONE HUTCHISON AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, WASHINGTON H SOUL PATTINSON AND COMPANY LIMITED – ASX SOL, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, MACQUARIE CAPITAL PTY LTD, DEUTSCHE BANK AG, BANK OF AMERICA AUSTRALIA LIMITED, MERRILL LYNCH (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD, VODAFONE NEW ZEALAND LIMITED

Labor leaps on S&P write-off call for NBN

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Original article by Supratim Adhikari
The Australian – Page: 25 : 27-Jul-18

Labor has called for the Auditor-General to audit the National Broadband Network’s books, although Finance Minister Mathias Cormann has labelled the suggestion an "ignorant stunt". Labor’s proposal follows a report from S&P Global Ratings which states that the NBN should be written off, with Labor stating that any proposed audit should concentrate on the NBN’s market share and revenue forecasts up until 2040. Labor has not indicated whether it would write off the NBN if it wins the next federal election.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, NBN CO LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE, AUSTRALIA. OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR-GENERAL, STANDARD AND POOR’S (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD

Surge in video streaming on NBN

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Original article by Ben Packham
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 3-Jul-18

Data from NBN Co shows that video streaming, web browsing and virtual ­private networks account for the bulk of traffic on the national broadband network. The average household with an NBN connection now downloads 200 gigabytes per month, compared with just 70GB per month three years ago. Labor has declined to comment on whether it still intends to roll out fibre-to-the-premises technology nationwide if it wins the next federal election.

CORPORATES
NBN CO LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, NETFLIX INCORPORATED

Optus subscriber growth powered by EPL coverage

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 7-May-18

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey shows that 20.9% of Australians aged 14+ used Optus as their main mobile phone service provider in the year to March 2018, compared with 19.8% in the year to March 2015. The number of Optus subscribers who watch the English Premier League either regularly or occasionally on TV has risen from 19.8% to 23.8% over this period. Meanwhile, 12.2% of Australians now use Optus as their fixed broadband service provider, up from 9.3% three years ago, while 15.5 % of Australians who watch the English Premier League either regularly or occasionally now use Optus fixed broadband, up from 10.8% three years ago. Optus signed a three-year broadcast deal for the Australian rights to the English Premier League in late 2015 for $A63 million per year, and it recently renewed the deal for a further three years.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE