Strong earnings from Optus and Bharti Airtel lift profit to S$686 million despite global uncertaintie
Singapore Telecommunications (Singtel) posted a 14% rise in first-quarter underlying profit, supported by robust results from its Australian arm Optus and strong contributions from regional associates such as India’s Bharti Airtel.
Regional Contributions Drive Growth
For the quarter ending June 2025, post-tax contributions from regional associates—including Bharti Airtel, Indonesia’s Telkomsel, and Thailand’s AIS—rose 24.5% to S$468 million. Bharti Airtel led the surge, with its post-tax contribution from India and South Asia more than doubling year-on-year.
Earnings In Line with Forecasts
Underlying net profit climbed to S$686 million (US$534.77 million), up from S$603 million in the same period last year, closely matching analysts’ consensus of S$686.9 million, according to Visible Alpha.
Statutory Profit Boosted by One-Off Gains
On a statutory basis, net profit soared to S$2.88 billion, compared to S$690 million a year earlier. The jump was driven by gains from selling a partial stake in Bharti Airtel and the merger between Intouch and Gulf Energy.
Market Strategy and Resilience
CEO Yuen Kuan Moon credited the performance to strategic price increases in key telecom markets and steady growth across the region. “We achieved a strong set of first-quarter results despite ongoing macroeconomic uncertainties and currency fluctuations,” he said.
Data Centres as Future Growth Engine
Looking ahead, Yuen highlighted Singtel’s data centre business as a growth driver for the current financial year, with facilities in Thailand and Singapore nearing completion.
Singtel’s first-quarter results demonstrate its ability to sustain growth through diversified regional partnerships and strategic asset management. With data centres set to expand its digital infrastructure footprint, the company appears well-positioned to weather global economic challenges.
Sources: CNA (2025) , Reuters (2025)
Keywords: Singtel Q1 Profit, Optus Australia, Bharti Airtel Growth, Regional Associates Contribution, Telecom Price Hike, Singapore Data Centre
