AIS profit up 2.9% in Q2, driven by Fibre

Largest mobile operator Advanced Info Service (AIS) Plc reported a net profit of 8.23 billion baht for the second quarter, up 2.9% year-onyear, due to continued growth of the mobile business and fixed broadband (AIS Fibre).

“In the second quarter, AIS as the digital life service provider continued to work relentlessly to ensure that we could deliver the best products and services to our customers,” said Somchai Lertsuthiwong, chief executive of AIS.

In the second quarter, revenue grew 5.8% from the same period a year earlier. Average revenue per user rose to 263 baht per month in the period, and the company’s mobile business jumped 5.3% from the same period a year earlier.

AIS maintained its leadership with 41.5 million mobile numbers nationwide.

Data usage through the company climbed to 11.5 gigabytes in the second quarter from 8.9GB in the same period a year earlier. AIS said 4G users were 66% of total subscribers.

AIS Fibre saw a 26% revenue rise in the second quarter as the number of subscribers hit 855,400. The target remains 1 million this year.

The company’s earnings are projected to grow by 4-6% this year. AIS has earmarked 20-25 billion baht for investment in the 4G network and fixed broadband.

“We always look for new opportunities in digital businesses and collaborate with other industries while maintaining good rapport with every stakeholder,” Mr Somchai said.

Through its subsidiary Advanced Wireless Network, AIS in June submitted applications with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission to buy 700MHz spectrum licences for 18.81 billion baht. The 700MHz band is earmarked for 5G development.

Under a Section 44 order, the country’s big three mobile operators are allowed to extend their existing licence payments for 900MHz spectrum for another five years if they purchase 700MHz licences.

AIS said 5G operations would take off in October of next year.

The 700MHz spectrum, as a lowfrequency bandwidth, is a standard 5G band that inherits outstanding wide coverage.

“The band is expected to support the success of 5G services in the next 2-3 years,” Mr Somchai said.