The country's second largest telecom operator Robi Axiata has earned net profit worth Tk 343 million for January-March (Q1), 2021, according to a release.
The company's total revenue in Q1, 21 stood at above Tk 1.98 billion, which is 3.2 per cent higher than the last quarter of 2020 and 1.7 per cent higher than the same quarter last year.
"Despite the heavy toll on financial performance caused by the impact of 2.0 per cent minimum tax on gross revenue, Robi ended Q1'21 with a net profit of Tk 343 million," said the release based on the company's corporate disclosure.
It said, having added 1.0 million customers, the Robi's subscriber base reached 51.90 million by the end of Q1, 21.
"With 70.6 per cent subscribers being internet users, Robi is leading the race towards digitalisation in the industry."
The company said its voice revenue declined by 4.2 per cent, compared to same quarter last year, indicating growing onslaught of OTT platforms for making voice calls.
"Data revenue, on the other hand, grew by 8.5 per cent compared to last quarter, and by 16.3 per cent compared to last year's same quarter," the company said.
On the back of 6.4 per cent growth, Robi's EBITDA stood at 8.12 billion at the end of Q1, 21, compared to last quarter.
"Compared to the same quarter last year, EBITDA grew by 3.1 per cent."
Robi contributed Tk 11.15 billion to the government exchequer in Q1, 21, representing 56.3 per cent of the total revenue for the quarter, the company said.
"The company made Tk 1.50 billion capex investment in Q1, 21. Robi had 13,502 sites at the end of Q1'21, 100 per cent of which were 4G sites."
Meanwhile, the company board of directors has recommended an interim cash dividend at the rate of 3.0 per cent of the paid-up capital of the company.
Commenting on the financial performance of the company, the Robi's managing director and CEO, Mahtab Uddin Ahmed said they were very happy to note that all the financial performance indicators are heading in the right direction at the beginning of the year.
"On the back of this positive momentum, we are very proud to declare an interim cash dividend," Mr. Ahmed said.
He has also said they are indeed proud to have been the first operator in the country to deploy 4.5G technology in all network sites.
Robi was listed on the stock exchanges at the end of the December, 2020.
The company's sponsor-directors hold 90.05 per cent shares, institutes 2.08 per cent and general shareholders 7.87 per cent as February 28, 2021.
Robi's share price closed at Tk 43.80 each on Sunday with a loss of 4.99 per cent or Tk 2.30 on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE).
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