Reply To:
Name - Reply Comment
Last Updated : 2024-04-25 12:36:00
Sri Lanka Telecom PLC (SLT) saw its profits declining in the three months ended September 30, 2022 (3Q22) due to sharply rising costs stemming from a bevy of factors including the sharp fall in the value of the rupee against the dollar and the soaring inflation amid the decline in revenues at its mobile services subsidiary, Mobitel Private Limited.
The group reported a consolidated revenue of Rs.26.7 billion for the July - September quarter, barely moved from the same period last year.
While SLT on a standalone basis maintained its top line at Rs.16.9 billion, up 7.4 percent from a year ago period driven by its carrier domestic, broadband and carrier international revenue streams, Mobitel has suffered some setback due to, “macro-economic challenges, tax changes and reduction of domestic interconnect charges”, the company said in a public relations statement.
But the company has sustained international business revenue growth.
The domestic interconnection revenues affected both SLT and Mobitel after the regulator, Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka directed to reduce the charges from April onwards.
As the government reversed course on its tax policy, the telecommunication services industry has seen a slew of tax increases and new taxes on their services since June including the Value Added Tax, Telecommunication Levy and more recently the Social Security Contribution (SSC) Levy which together have sent up what the customers pay for their ICT consumption.
With the new tax rates, Sri Lankans are now paying 35 percent combined tax for telecommunication services they consume other than internet services and 17.3 percent for internet services effective from September 1 before the new SSC Levy of 2.5 percent which came into effect from October 1 onwards.
Meanwhile, the group reported an operating profit of Rs.2.89 billion for the quarter, which was down by 28 percent, reflecting the challenges in the top-line and the costs front. At the company level, SLT however reported an operating profit of Rs.1.43 billion, up 27.8 percent from a year ago.
“The year-on-year electricity cost has decreased due to power outage whereas generator fuel cost has increased significantly due to power outage as well as fuel price”, the company said.
Telecommunication companies became early winners of the pandemic when they had to provide connectivity to people and businesses seamlessly to work and learn from a remote spot without being disrupted from the lockdowns, sending their revenues and profits substantially higher.
The SLT group reported earnings of 79 cents a share or Rs.1.43 billion for the September quarter compared to Rs.1.79 a share or Rs.3.23 billion in the same period last year.
At the group level, SLT reported a foreign exchange loss of Rs.537 million in the quarter compared to a loss of Rs.5.0 million a year ago.
The National Treasury holds 49.50 percent stake in SLT besides its holdings while Global Telecommunications Holdings NV holds 44.98 percent stake.
Wije Monday, 14 November 2022 09:11 AM
Now they will try for another price hike , they will not try to expand the market providing service to rural area
Wj Monday, 14 November 2022 09:15 AM
SLT earn unreasonably during Covid time specially from children who use services for education better now suffer
Rangika Monday, 14 November 2022 04:37 PM
This is natural because Mobile failed to match its charges with other competitors. Most subscribers has shifted to orher networks.
Rohan Fernando Tuesday, 15 November 2022 09:34 AM
Don’t fidget the investments the company has to pay every year averaging 18 to 20 billion Rupees to keep up with technology. Also the commitment to provide uninterrupted services including domestic service calls during the pandemic lock down taking a great risk by service staff.
Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.
Reply To:
Name - Reply Comment
US authorities are currently reviewing the manifest of every cargo aboard MV
On March 26, a couple arriving from Thailand was arrested with 88 live animal
According to villagers from Naula-Moragolla out of 105 families 80 can afford
Is the situation in Sri Lanka so grim that locals harbour hope that they coul