SINGTEL (SGX:Z74)
M1 LIMITED (SGX:B2F)
STARHUB LTD (SGX:CC3)
Singapore Strategy 2019 ~ Telecommunication Sector - A Short-term Reprieve?
- We expect the competitive intensity in the sector to remain elevated, with the market likely to get a possible short-term reprieve from the delay in TPG’s commercial rollout.
- Broadly, the pressure on the industry’s MSR should continue in 2019 with rising adoption of SIM-only plans, the extended smartphone replacement cycle, and the possibility of more MVNOs coming on board.
- Valuation-wise, the sector trades 1.5SD below its historical EV/EBITDA mean, which, in our view, has sufficiently addressed downside risks from the fourth MNO.
- SingTel (SGX:Z74) remains our preferred exposure due to its earnings diversity and dividend certainty.
Waiting for landfall.
- TPG’s delayed commercial rollout – reportedly pushed back to 2Q19 (from 4Q18) – suggests the threat posed by the fourth mobile network operator (MNO) may be lower than initially expected.
- ASX-listed TPG (TPG AU) reported SGD66.7m cash capex for its Singapore mobile rollout for FY18 (Jul) (including SGD4.4m in FY17). The amount is significantly below the SGD200-300m guidance made in late 2016 for outdoor coverage, and may raise questions as to its Singapore rollout commitment and its ability to meet the onerous conditions set by the Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA) ie outdoor coverage of 95% (by end-2018), to be followed by road-tunnels and in-building coverage (end-2019) and underground MRT stations (end-2021).
- Interestingly, at TPG’s FY18 results announcement in September, management highlighted that: it is on track to meet outdoor coverage requirements by end-2018, its production network already covers in excess of 90% of outdoor areas, and the capex outlook is still in line with its initial forecasts.
- TPG also awaits regulatory approval for the merger of its Australia business with Vodafone Hutchison Australia. This could divert management’s resources, in our view, and be a distraction to its Singapore aspirations.
Incumbents have hedged their bets well with aggressive re-contracting offers and a data-led/MVNO strategy.
- The incumbent MNOs have introduced numerous data-upsized packages, re-contracted subs on new handset bundles and forged strong collaborations with mobile virtual network operators (MVNO) over the past 12 months to pre-empt fresh competition. We believe this has disrupted TPG’s go-to-market strategy, necessitating a review (partly explaining the delay).
- As all three incumbents are utilising MVNOs to “hedge” against market share losses, TPG would have less room to manoeuvre and grab market share, in our view. Realistically, we think TPG’s network would be inferior in the medium term.
- There are five MVNOs in the market – two hosted by SingTel (ZeroOne & Zero Mobile), one each on StarHub (SGX:CC3) (MyRepublic) and M1 (SGX:B2F) (Circles.Life). We do not rule out more MVNOs entering the fray.
MSR should remain under pressure in 2019.
- We expect the industry’s mobile service revenue (MSR) to remain under pressure from: stronger take-up of SIM-only plans, extended weakness on usage/roaming revenues, and competition. While SIM-only plans are still small relative to the overall subs base, they are rising rapidly and would make up an estimated 10-15% of total subs by end- 2019.
- Higher data inclusions and upsized data plans would also lend further pressure on data yields and ARPUs.
NEUTRAL rating maintained.
- The sector valuation of 9x FY19F EV/EBITDA is at 1.5SD below its 5-year historical mean of 11x, which we believe has priced in downside risks from the new entrant (TPG).
- The FTSE Straits Times Telecommunications Index (FSTTC) has also underperformed the STI by 8-16% over the past 12-15 months, with the telcos’ attractive prospective dividend yields of 4-6.5% providing some share price support.
- Key downside/upside risks are: greater/weaker competition and lower-/stronger-than-expected showing from the enterprise segment.
Singapore Research
RHB Securities Research
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https://www.rhbinvest.com.sg/
2018-12-14
SGX Stock
Analyst Report
3.220
SAME
3.220
2.060
SAME
2.060
1.900
SAME
1.900
RHB Research | Singapore Strategy 2019 ~ Buy Selectively & Stay Defensive
2019 What To Expect & Market Valuation
2019 Singapore Stock Picks & Investment Themes
RHB Research | Singapore Strategy 2019 ~ Sector Outlook
Banks - NIM Widening To Drive Earnings
Consumer Sector - Favour Those Ready To Harvest
Healthcare Sector - Not In The Pinkest Of Health
Plantation Sector - Brace For Another Year Of Unexciting Prices
Real Estate Sector - Weighed Down By Measures And Rising Interest Rates
REITs - RHB Invest 2018-12-20: Selective Yield Plays Likely To Remain In Favour
Technology Sector - Trade War Uncertainty An Overhang On Tech Stocks
Telecommunication Sector - A Short-Term Reprieve?
Small & Mid-Caps - Pick Selectively From Bottom-up
