Seoul, South Korea, January, 31, 2019 - SK Telecom (NYSE:SKM) today announced its earnings for the year 2018 on a K-IFRS 1115 consolidated basis: revenue of USD 15 billion, operating income of 900 million, and net income of 3 billion.
SK Telecom’s revenue and operating income fell by 3.7% and 21.8%, respectively, compared to the previous year(2017 figures are based on historical accounting standards), due to the rise of selective contract discount plan subscribers throughout the year. The company’s eight different measures aimed at enhancing customer value have also affected the earnings decline.
Net income increased by 17.9% compared to year 2017 due to increased equity method gains backed by record-high performance of SK Hynix.
Driven by the growth of its media and security business, the company’s revenue for the fourth quarter grew by 3.9% quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) to USA 4 billion, heightening expectations for improved performance in 2019.
SK Broadband hit record-high performance in fiscal year 2018, recording annual sales of USA 3 billion and operating income of USA 175 million. Compared to the previous year, the number of IPTV subscribers expanded by around 10% to reach 4.73 million and for the first time the UHD (premium service) subscribers exceeded 50% of the total (IPTV) subscriber base.
The performance of ADP Caps was reflected, for the first time, in the fourth quarter of 2018. ADT Caps posted sales of USD 200 million and operating profit of USD 28.6 million in Q4 2018. It is expected that ADT Caps will heavily contribute to SK Telecom’s yearly earnings from this fiscal year.
Throughout year 2018, SK Telecom has implemented eight innovative measures – e.g. price plan recommendation, roaming, membership program, T Plan, etc. – to strengthen customer trust and value. As a result, the company has recorded 185,000 net mobile subscriber additions and an all-time low churn rate of 1.22% (0.99% excluding MVNO) for the year. In addition, SK Telecom achieved the feat of ranking first in all three major customer satisfaction surveys in Korea (KCSI, NCSI, KS-SQI) for the longest period among companies of all industries.
Launched in July 2018, T Plan has created a new paradigm for price plans by adopting the concept of ‘data sharing among family members,’ and reached 4.4 million cumulative subscribers as of the end of December 2018. ‘0 Plan,’ launched in August 2018 for those aged 24 or below, has surpassed the 500,000 subscriber mark as of December-end 2018.
In 2019, SK Telecom plans to drive earnings growth by launching 5G service in full swing and strengthening its New ICT Business such as media, security and commerce.
The company plans to expand its 5G service centered around the Seoul metropolitan area and major cities in Korea in time for the launch of 5G smartphones. SK Telecom is set to provide a safe and differentiated 5G network based on its AI-based network operations technology and world-class quantum cryptography technology.
SK Telecom’s MNO Business will continue to introduce unique and innovative programs to further solidify customer trust and aims to achieve revenue growth from the second half of this year.
Media Business will merge ‘oksusu’ and ‘POOQ,’ and shape the integrated service into a global OTT platform, while also making inroads into the U.S. next-generation broadcasting solutions market under partnership with Sinclair Broadcast Group.
Security Business has secured an integrated service system ranging from physical security to information security with the completion of the merger between ADT Caps and NSOK, and the acquisition of SK Infosec. SK Telecom plans to provide new security services for homes and parking lots in 2019.
Commerce Business has laid groundwork for growth as 11st successfully attracted USD 50 million in investment last year. 11st aims to reach the break-even point this year by offering AI/Data-based services to customers.
“SK Telecom has established the basic framework for its four main business areas, MNO, media, security and commerce, by successfully reorganizing the New ICT business portfolio last year,” said Yoon Poong-Young, Chief Financial Officer of SK Telecom. “Based on unmatched competitiveness in 5G, SK Telecom will make all-out efforts to achieve tangible growth in New ICT Business in 2019.”
[WikiLeaks Korea=By Junhyeok Shin]
jshin2@wikileaks-kr.org
