Latest news with #TelenorASA
The Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Telenor eyeing development of sovereign, sustainable ‘AI factory' in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR: Telenor ASA, a major shareholder of CelcomDigi Bhd, is eyeing the development of a sovereign, sustainable 'artificial intelligence factory' (AI factory) in Malaysia – a data centre designed to deliver local compute power. Telenor Group senior vice-president and head of AI Dr Ieva Martinkenaite said the proposed facility would draw on the company's experience in Norway, where it established its first AI factory to provide compute-as-a-service within a sovereign, sustainable framework. 'We see an opportunity to work with the Malaysian government on secure, scalable AI infrastructure that benefits the country. Telcos are trusted partners in AI ecosystems, we are not just connectivity providers anymore, but technology players,' she told reporters at the release of Telenor Asia Digital Lives Decoded 2025: Building Trust in Malaysia's AI Future Report today. Martinkenaite said the AI factory could support Malaysia's cloud and data centre strategy with potential payback to the economy. 'We are also ready to contribute perspectives on training and responsible AI as a service. This is certainly also an opportunity to monetise.' CelcomDigi chief innovation officer Kugan Thirunavakasaru stressed the need for local sovereign data to embed AI into services for its over 20 million users. 'In two to three years, every individual could have a personal AI agent, but that requires massive compute power,' he said. 'The AI factory concept aligns well with CelcomDigi's vision, as future AI agents will be embedded into services and perform end-to-end tasks for users.' He said scaling to meet this demand is not easy without the right capability and compute power. 'Pooling resources with Telenor gives us the scalability to meet that demand while ensuring ethics and governance remain in place.' The report, now in its fourth year, surveyed 1,000 Malaysian internet users to understand how AI is reshaping digital lives. Signalling a significant behavioural shift, with 89% of Malaysian internet users saying they use AI today, up from 75% in 2024. Notably, the number of internet users who use AI for financial purposes or health and fitness has more than doubled. Today, a quarter of Malaysian internet users surveyed intentionally use AI tools multiple times a day. They are also leveraging AI to enhance their skillsets. The top competencies AI has helped improve include problem-solving (56%), data analysis (48%), research (47%) and creativity (45%). Over half (51%) of Malaysian internet users now use AI at work, up from 37% in 2024. Top applications of AI in the workplace include using it for analytics (59%), content development (52%), and customer service (45%). For those who are already using AI at work, they are 17% more likely to believe that AI will have a very positive impact on their job security and 13% more likely to believe the same for the country's economy, signalling that AI adoption helps to shape people's confidence. However, only one in three of those who use AI at work say their company has an AI strategy in place. Malaysian internet users remain optimistic about the impact that AI can have on society, especially on the education front. Trust in AI-generated content has also grown across the board, especially in education (+15%), financial advice (+25%), and health (+19%).
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Telenor ASA (TELNF) Q2 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Strong Nordic Growth Amidst Asian Challenges
Release Date: July 18, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Positive Points Telenor ASA (TELNF) reported a strong Q2 with a 33% increase in adjusted EPS, driven by exceptional performance in the Nordics. The company achieved a 16.1% EBITA growth in Norway, a level not seen for over a decade, contributing to a 12.5% EBITA growth for the Nordics. Telenor ASA (TELNF) announced plans to expand fiber reach in Norway and upgrade DNA's infrastructure in Finland, indicating strategic growth in core markets. The company maintained a stable OpEx in Q2, with a 1.6% reduction in the Nordics, driven by transformation efforts and cost discipline. Telenor ASA (TELNF) raised its EBITA outlook for the Nordics to high single-digit growth, reflecting confidence in continued strong performance. Negative Points The company's free cash flow before M&A was impacted by negative developments in operating working capital and a disputed tax case in Pakistan. Telenor ASA (TELNF) faced challenges in Asia, with macroeconomic and regulatory pressures affecting performance, particularly in Bangladesh and Malaysia. The leverage ratio increased to 2.4 times, influenced by dividend payments and unfavorable currency effects, indicating potential financial strain. The company anticipates higher spending on sales and marketing activities in the second half, which may impact EBITA growth. Telenor ASA (TELNF) acknowledged that the recovery in Bangladesh is likely to be delayed until post-election in 2026, indicating ongoing challenges in that market. Q & A Highlights Warning! GuruFocus has detected 7 Warning Sign with TELNF. Q: Despite the increase in EBITDA guidance, why hasn't the free cash flow guidance for the year been adjusted? Is it due to higher CapEx or other factors like spectrum auction costs in Thailand? A: There are several factors at play, including FX impacts, the payment of disputed tax claims in Pakistan, working capital fluctuations, and higher CapEx related to fiber rollout in Finland and resilience investments in Norway. These factors collectively lead us to maintain the free cash flow guidance for the year. CFO Q: Regarding the Global Connect deal, will subscribers see improvements in service quality, such as bandwidth or speed, due to integration investments? A: Initially, Global Connect's customers will have the same experience, but we plan to offer additional services like security and TV services, which could enhance their experience and potentially increase our top line. CEO Q: Can you explain the drivers behind the strong Nordic EBITDA growth and whether this level of growth is sustainable? A: The growth is driven by a combination of service revenue increases and a focus on structural cost efficiencies. While both are crucial, the timing of price adjustments and the roaming agreement effects also contributed. However, we do not expect to maintain this growth rate every quarter due to anticipated higher market activity spending and resilience-related OpEx. CFO Q: With the competitive dynamics in Sweden, how do you view potential market consolidation, and would you consider further exits from Asia to finance such deals? A: We support the principle of market consolidation from four to three players in the Nordics. However, any financing decisions would depend on specific deals, and we do not comment on potential asset sales in Asia unless there is a concrete transaction. CFO Q: What are your thoughts on the fiber regulation in Norway and its potential impact on your business? A: The fiber regulations remain unchanged since Q1, with discussions ongoing about potential deregulation by 2026. This could impact our strategic decisions, but no definitive changes have been made yet. CEO For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Telenor ASA (TELNF) Q2 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Strong Nordic Growth Amidst Asian Challenges
Release Date: July 18, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Positive Points Telenor ASA (TELNF) reported a strong Q2 with a 33% increase in adjusted EPS, driven by exceptional performance in the Nordics. The company achieved a 16.1% EBITA growth in Norway, a level not seen for over a decade, contributing to a 12.5% EBITA growth for the Nordics. Telenor ASA (TELNF) announced plans to expand fiber reach in Norway and upgrade DNA's infrastructure in Finland, indicating strategic growth in core markets. The company maintained a stable OpEx in Q2, with a 1.6% reduction in the Nordics, driven by transformation efforts and cost discipline. Telenor ASA (TELNF) raised its EBITA outlook for the Nordics to high single-digit growth, reflecting confidence in continued strong performance. Negative Points The company's free cash flow before M&A was impacted by negative developments in operating working capital and a disputed tax case in Pakistan. Telenor ASA (TELNF) faced challenges in Asia, with macroeconomic and regulatory pressures affecting performance, particularly in Bangladesh and Malaysia. The leverage ratio increased to 2.4 times, influenced by dividend payments and unfavorable currency effects, indicating potential financial strain. The company anticipates higher spending on sales and marketing activities in the second half, which may impact EBITA growth. Telenor ASA (TELNF) acknowledged that the recovery in Bangladesh is likely to be delayed until post-election in 2026, indicating ongoing challenges in that market. Q & A Highlights Warning! GuruFocus has detected 7 Warning Sign with TELNF. Q: Despite the increase in EBITDA guidance, why hasn't the free cash flow guidance for the year been adjusted? Is it due to higher CapEx or other factors like spectrum auction costs in Thailand? A: There are several factors at play, including FX impacts, the payment of disputed tax claims in Pakistan, working capital fluctuations, and higher CapEx related to fiber rollout in Finland and resilience investments in Norway. These factors collectively lead us to maintain the free cash flow guidance for the year. CFO Q: Regarding the Global Connect deal, will subscribers see improvements in service quality, such as bandwidth or speed, due to integration investments? A: Initially, Global Connect's customers will have the same experience, but we plan to offer additional services like security and TV services, which could enhance their experience and potentially increase our top line. CEO Q: Can you explain the drivers behind the strong Nordic EBITDA growth and whether this level of growth is sustainable? A: The growth is driven by a combination of service revenue increases and a focus on structural cost efficiencies. While both are crucial, the timing of price adjustments and the roaming agreement effects also contributed. However, we do not expect to maintain this growth rate every quarter due to anticipated higher market activity spending and resilience-related OpEx. CFO Q: With the competitive dynamics in Sweden, how do you view potential market consolidation, and would you consider further exits from Asia to finance such deals? A: We support the principle of market consolidation from four to three players in the Nordics. However, any financing decisions would depend on specific deals, and we do not comment on potential asset sales in Asia unless there is a concrete transaction. CFO Q: What are your thoughts on the fiber regulation in Norway and its potential impact on your business? A: The fiber regulations remain unchanged since Q1, with discussions ongoing about potential deregulation by 2026. This could impact our strategic decisions, but no definitive changes have been made yet. CEO For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Best Income Stock to Buy for June 5th
Here is the stock with buy rank and strong income characteristics for investors to consider today, June 5th: Telenor TELNY: This leading telecommunications company in Norway, which is among the most advanced telecommunications markets in the world, has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 3.8% over the last 60 days. Telenor ASA price-consensus-chart | Telenor ASA Quote This Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) company has a dividend yield of 3.9%, compared with the industry average of 0.8%. Telenor ASA dividend-yield-ttm | Telenor ASA Quote See the full list of top ranked stocks here. Find more top income stocks with some of our great premium screens Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Telenor ASA (TELNY) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Telenor ASA (TELNF) Q4 2024 Earnings Call Highlights: Strong Free Cash Flow and Nordic Growth ...
Free Cash Flow: NOK13.3 billion in 2024, exceeding proposed dividend payments. EBITDA Growth: 6% in the Nordics, 3.5% for the group in 2024. Service Revenue Growth: 3.3% for the group in 2024; 4.6% mobile service revenue growth in the Nordics. CapEx to Sales: 16% for the group in 2024, 19% in Q4. Net Income: EPS of NOK1.27 for Q4 and NOK13.88 for the full year. Dividend Proposal: NOK9.60 per share for 2024. Leverage Ratio: 2.4, slightly above the target range of 1.8 to 2.3. Nordic Mobile ARPU Growth: 4.9% in Norway. Bangladesh Revenue Correction: NOK90 million negative impact. Free Cash Flow Before M&A: NOK11.4 billion in 2024. 2025 Free Cash Flow Outlook: Around NOK13 billion before M&A. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 7 Warning Signs with TELNF. Release Date: February 06, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Telenor ASA (TELNF) reported strong free cash flow of NOK13.3 billion in 2024, exceeding proposed dividend payments. The company achieved a 6% EBITDA growth in the Nordics, driven by successful transformation efforts. Telenor ASA (TELNF) made significant progress in reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions, aligning with its ESG agenda. The company maintained a strong balance sheet and manageable maturity profile, despite a slight increase in net leverage. Telenor ASA (TELNF) expects to deliver free cash flow before M&A of around NOK13 billion in 2025, indicating strong financial visibility. The macroeconomic situation in Bangladesh negatively impacted group results, with no immediate recovery in consumer spending. Service revenue growth in Q4 was affected by one-offs and macroeconomic challenges, particularly in Bangladesh. The company faced a VAT-related case in Norway, which slightly dented fixed revenues. Telenor ASA (TELNF) experienced a sequential increase in net leverage to 2.4, driven by dividend payments and unfavorable FX impacts. The regulatory approval process in Pakistan is delayed, potentially affecting the timing of strategic deals. Q: Can you clarify what is considered core and non-core for Telenor, especially regarding your assets in Asia and infrastructure? A: Our current strategy focuses on four business areas, each with distinct strategies to maximize shareholder value. In Asia, we aim to develop our assets through different structures, while in the Nordics, everything is considered core. We focus on IoT and cybersecurity in AMP and will evaluate any inorganic opportunities that arise. Q: With the expected decline in OpEx and CapEx in the Nordics for 2025, what is the scope for further reductions beyond that year? A: While we are coming off a peak CapEx cycle, we are not ready to comment on CapEx to sales beyond 2025. We are committed to maintaining Telenor's future fitness, which includes a focus on cost and efficiencies. Q: What are the expectations for Asia's contribution to free cash flow, given the situation in Bangladesh and the potential sale of Pakistan? A: Our ambition for Asia to contribute NOK5 billion in free cash flow by 2025 remains, despite challenges in Bangladesh. The sale of Pakistan was not a significant factor in this target, and we expect dividends from True in Thailand to begin in the second half of the year. Q: How do you view the potential for in-market consolidation in Europe, and are you actively pursuing simplification in Asia? A: In Asia, our focus is on driving value within our associate positions and considering strategic opportunities that arise. In Europe, particularly in Sweden and Denmark, we hope for regulatory changes that will allow for industrial in-market consolidation. Q: Can you provide insights into the service revenue growth in Sweden and the pricing environment there? A: The year-over-year growth in Sweden was impacted by tough comparisons and strong competition in Q4. However, we are comfortable with the outlook for 2025, supported by our strategy and strong net additions in the quarter. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
