SingTel Profits From Optus Result

Optus has delivered a $676 million net profit for the year to March 31 to its parent company SingTel (SGT). Net profit was up 15.9 percent which total revenue growing 7.5 percent to $8.9 billion. SingTel's own net profit was S$3.9 billion (A$3.1 billion), 13.3 percent stronger. A higher Aussie dollar increased revenue by 5 percent.

SingTel owns 100 percent of Optus and has a final dividend of S14.2 cents. SingTel is Southeast Asia's largest telecommunications firm by revenue, holds significant stakes in six foreign mobile operators: Bharti Airtel Ltd., Telkomsel, Advanced Info Service, Pakistan's Warid Telecom, the Philippines' Globe Telecom Inc. and Pacific Bangladesh Telecom. Optus' profit results were boosted by a 9 percent increase of mobile phone and broadband customers to 8.5 million (3.6 million on 3G).

Allen Lew, SingTel's Singapore chief executive officer, said the company needs to lower costs on broadband services to improve its return on investment.

• Revenue $S16.8bn + 13%
• Profit $S3.9bn + 13.1%
• EPS S24.56¢ + 13.1%
• Dividend 14.2S¢ + 14%