April 27, 2024

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Telecom firm KT said on Feb. 12 that it swung to a net profit in the fourth quarter, but its sales and operating profit fell due to its sluggish mobile business.

KT logged 18.1 billion won (US$16 million) in net profit in the October-December period, compared with a net deficit of 123.5 billion won from a year ago, the firm said in a consolidated financial statement. 

Its operating profit tumbled 28.4 percent on-year to 95.8 billion won in the three-month period due to its tepid wireless business as it expanded the smartphone tariff discount rate in line with the government policy.

It also offered discounts to mobile consumers after a fire at its facilities in western Seoul led to massive Internet and phone disruptions in November for days.

Sales slipped 1.8 percent to 6 trillion won in the last three months of 2018, the company said.

For 2018, sales of the nation’s largest broadband and fixed-line provider increased 1.6 percent on-year to 23.8 trillion won as strong revenue from its broadband and IPTV service offset its weak wireless business.

Its operating profit stood at 1.2 trillion won in 2018, down 11.4 percent from a year earlier due to downbeat mobile sales and a hike in labor costs.

Sales from the fixed-line phone have been on a steady decline as more people are using mobile phones instead of landlines, while high-speed broadband Internet service posted a strong performance on rising demand for high-quality content.

Revenue from its media and content business increased thanks to robust demand for IPTV, with its subscribers reaching 7.85 million as of December, the nation‘s largest.

The company vowed to develop new growth drivers to improve earnings this year, including the voice-command artificial intelligence service, internet security, smart energy and connected cars.

“Despite the changing mobile industry trend, KT posted stable earnings with an expanded consumer base in the key business areas,” CFO Yoon Kyung-keun said in a statement.

“KT will strive to get ahead in the 5G market with the world-class 5G technology and service.”

By Ram Garikipati and newswires (ram@heraldcorp.com)