TELECOMMUNICATIONS – AUSTRALIA

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

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

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

TPG soars on Vodafone talks

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Supratim Adhikari, Bridget Carter
The Australian – Page: 19 & 23 : 23-Aug-18

TPG Telecom has advised that it is holding discussions with Vodafone regarding a "merger of equals", as it prepares to launch its own mobile network. TPG already uses Vodafone’s network for its mobile service, while Vodafone in turn uses TPG’s fixed broadband infrastructure. Graeme Ferguson of S&P Global Ratings says the potential merger may affect the Federal Government’s auction of 5G spectrum in November, as both companies were expected to submit bids. TPG shares closed 21 per cent higher at $7.65 on 22 August.

CORPORATES
TPG TELECOM LIMITED – ASX TPM, VODAFONE HUTCHISON AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, S&P GLOBAL RATINGS, CITIGROUP PTY LTD, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS

Tech giants face $10m fines under security laws

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Andrew Tillett
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 8 : 14-Aug-18

The federal government will introduce new laws that aim to boost efforts to detect terrorist and criminal activity via electronic surveillance. The laws, which were developed in consultation with telcos, internet firms and telecommunications device makers, include fines of up to $10 million for companies that refuse to provide access to secret data. They have been introduced after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull complained in 2017 that terrorists and criminals are using secret message services such as WhatsApp to avoid surveillance; he promised to take action to require technology firms to work with law enforcement agencies to detect such activity.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE ORGANISATION, AUSTRALIAN SECRET INTELLIGENCE SERVICE, AUSTRALIAN SIGNALS DIRECTORATE, AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT

Surge in video streaming on NBN

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

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 lets SBS simulcast rest of World Cup

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Jennifer Duke
The Age – Page: 5 : 29-Jun-18

Optus CEO Allen Lew says the telco is confident that it has resolved the technical issues that plagued its live streaming coverage during the first week of the FIFA World Cup. However, Optus has agreed to allow SBS to broadcast all remaining matches in the tournament, including ones that were initially to have been exclusive to Optus Sport. SBS MD Michael Ebeid notes that the public broadcaster’s World Cup coverage has attracted eight million viewers to date. Meanwhile, Tunisia has won 2-1 against Panama in the latest World Cup match.

CORPORATES
SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, SPECIAL BROADCASTING SERVICE (SBS), WORLD CUP, FEDERATION INTERNATIONALE DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION, ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

More pain to come for Telstra investors

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 19 : 22-Jun-18

Telstra shares fell to a seven-year low on 21 June, in response to its restructuring proposal and 2018-19 earnings guidance that was below market expectations. Citigroup is bearish about the EBITDA and earnings outlook for Telstra’s mobile division over the next four years, and the firm has downgraded its earnings per share forecasts. Citigroup and CLSA also expect Telstra to reduce its dividend payout in coming years.

CORPORATES
TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, CITIGROUP PTY LTD, CLSA AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, VODAFONE HUTCHISON AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Red-faced Optus lets SBS screen games

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Brad Norington
The Australian – Page: 3 : 21-Jun-18

SBS will simulcast all remaining matches in the group stages of the FIFA World Cup following the technical issues that have plagued Optus’s live streaming coverage. Optus CEO Allen Lew had previously expressed confidence that the problems had been resolved. However, he has announced that Optus will offer free access to its World Cup coverage until the end of August and paid subscribers will receive a full refund. Optus will also consider compensation requests from advertising partners for its World Cup coverage. Meanwhile, Spain has defeated Iran 1-0 in the latest World Cup match.

CORPORATES
SPECIAL BROADCASTING SERVICE (SBS), SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, WORLD CUP, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Optus confident it has sidelined World Cup streaming glitches

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Yolanda Redrup
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 20-Jun-18

Optus will provide an update on 20 June regarding the actions it has taken to address problems with its live streaming of the FIFA World Cup. However, the telco believes that it has resolved the technical issues that forced it to allow broadcast partner SBS to televise matches that were to have been exclusive to the Optus Sport service. Marketing expert Michelle Gamble says Optus’s advertising partners for its World Cup coverage may seek compensation from the telco. Meanwhile, Russia has defeated Egypt 3-1 in the latest World Cup match.

CORPORATES
SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, SPECIAL BROADCASTING SERVICE (SBS), MARKETING ANGELS CONSULTANCY, HISENSE AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, REBEL SPORT LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

New Telstra deal to help retiring types

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 30 : 5-Jun-18

Fifty current Australian Football League players will become Telstra Ambassadors under a new agreement with the telco. Telstra and the AFL will produce exclusive digital content based around the selected players, with the aim of encourage fans to engage with the AFL throughout the year. The deal will also benefit all AFL players via an increased contribution to their retirement scheme. Telstra, Seven Network and Fox Sports paid $A2.508bn in a six-year deal for AFL broadcasting rights in 2015.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE PLAYERS’ ASSOCIATION, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, THE NIELSEN COMPANY (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD

ALDImobile builds on strong start to 2018

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 28-May-18

ALDImobile has won the Roy Morgan Mobile Phone Service Provider Monthly Customer Satisfaction Award for April, with a customer satisfaction rating of 84.1%. It is the brand’s second victory in 2018 and comes after leapfrogging March winner Virgin Mobile, which came in second in April on 80.8%. Analysis of the historical trends in satisfaction show that ALDImobile’s victory in April has been built upon a steady improvement over the last year; the brand has gained an average of just over 2ppts per month in customer satisfaction to catch and now overtake its rivals in recent months. ALDImobile is not itself a network provider but rather a Mobile Virtual Network Operator, which utilises the underlying Telstra mobile network to provide its service. When it comes to the underlying mobile networks, the Vodafone network with an overall customer satisfaction rating of 77.7% is narrowly ahead of both the Optus network on 76.9% and the Telstra network on 74.9%.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, ALDIMOBILE, VIRGIN MOBILE (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD, VODAFONE AUSTRALIA LIMITED, SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS