Wrap Text
Quarterly Update for the Period ended 31 March 2018
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
Registration number: 1994/009584/06
ISIN: ZAE000042164
Share code: MTN
("MTN" or "the Group")
Quarterly update for the period ended 31 March 2018
MTN is a leading emerging market mobile operator, serving 221,3 million people in 22 countries across Africa and
the Middle East. Our vision is to deliver a bold, new digital world to our customers. Our belief is that everyone
deserves the benefits of a modern connected life.
Highlights
- Group subscribers increased by 1,9% quarter-on-quarter (QoQ), with net additions of 4,1 million
- Active MTN Mobile Money customers increased by 3,9% QoQ to 22,7 million
- Voice traffic (billable minutes) increased by 24,2% and total data traffic increased by 56,7%
- Group service revenue increased by 9,1%
- Group data revenue increased by 26,9%
- MTN South Africa increased service revenue by 2,5% while the EBITDA margin increased by 150bp year-on-year
(YoY) to 35,0%
- MTN Nigeria increased service revenue by 14,4% while the EBITDA margin increased 340bp to 41,8%
- MTN Irancell increased service revenue by 15,2%
Unless otherwise stated, financial growth rates are presented on a constant currency basis. Financial growth rates are
YoY (the three-month period ended 31 March 2018 versus the three months ended 31 March 2017) unless otherwise stated.
QoQ growth rates refer to 1Q18 vs 4Q17. Data revenue refers to access data revenue only. Digital revenue refers to
Mobile Money (MoMo), rich media services and value-added services (VAS) revenue.
IFRS 15 - Revenue from Contracts with Customers has been implemented with effect from 1 January 2018 and comparative
numbers have been restated where appropriate.
MTN Group president and CEO, Rob Shuter comments:
"During the quarter, the group continued to focus on operational execution across our markets, leveraging off the
strong network investment of the past few years. This allowed us to deliver an acceleration in service revenue
growth to 9,1% (constant currency), led by MTN Nigeria and MTN Ghana.
Group voice revenue growth of 5,4% benefited from strong growth in Nigeria and Ghana of 15,2% and 20,6% respectively.
Group data revenue grew by 26,9% as we executed on our dual-data strategy, ensuring appropriate data coverage across
our footprint. Digital service revenue is a material opportunity for the group, led by MTN Mobile Money and rich-media
services. MoMo revenue increased by 52,4% YoY.
The group-wide network investment enhanced data quality in metro areas. In both South Africa and Nigeria,
MTN maintained network leadership.
In Nigeria and Ghana we made good progress on the IPO processes, which we aim to conclude during 2018. To this end,
we will be releasing full financial results for MTN Nigeria on 7 May 2018. On 20 April 2018, we received all required
regulatory approvals to proceed with the IPO in Ghana, which we expect to launch in late May 2018.
MTN Cameroon is well advanced in agreeing the terms of its licence amendments and expects to sign the revised licence
during May 2018.
MTN Benin and the government of Benin have concluded a memorandum of understanding which includes the settlement of
historic frequency fees, a five-year licence extension and the addition of FTTx to the existing licence conditions settled
by the payment of XAF35 billion (US$63 million) in May 2018 and a second payment of XAF35 billion in December 2018.
Negotiations around future frequency fees are continuing and expected to be concluded by the end of June 2018.
In South Africa, we are engaging with the authorities on the proposed amendments to the Electronic Communications Act
to find a solution that would best deliver the most cost-effective coverage for South Africans as well as much needed
resources for the national fiscus.
Following the recent denial order issued by the US Department of Commerce, we are assessing both the impact and
contingency planning given our exposure to ZTE in our networks."
MTN's results are presented in line with the group's operational structure. This is South Africa, Nigeria and three
regions: Southern and East Africa and Ghana (SEAGHA), West and Central Africa (WECA) and Middle East and North Africa
(MENA) and their respective underlying operations.
The SEAGHA region includes Ghana, Uganda, Zambia, Rwanda, South Sudan, Botswana (joint venture equity-accounted),
Swaziland (joint venture equity-accounted) and Business Group.
The WECA region includes Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Benin, Congo-Brazzaville, Liberia, Guinea-Conakry and Guinea-Bissau.
The MENA region includes Iran (joint venture equity-accounted), Syria, Sudan, Yemen, Afghanistan and Cyprus.
MTN SOUTH AFRICA
MTN South Africa recorded first quarter YoY service revenue growth of 2,5%. While lower than our full-year
expectations, this improving QoQ performance follows the more muted performance in the prior quarter (4Q17). The growth
was supported by data and digital revenue, which increased by 12,1% and 17,7% respectively, while outgoing voice revenue
decreased by 9,2%. Data traffic increased by 49%, supported by a 14% increase in active data users.
MTN South Africa's EBITDA margin expanded to 35% YoY, supported by continued cost efficiencies and the increase in
service revenue. Our customer value management (CVM) platform is now in place with a focus on managing the core voice
business while driving overall customer spend and offerings.
Following the marked improvement in our network in 2017, we invested R1,7 billion in capex in the first quarter of
2018, maintaining our leading network position.
The South African postpaid business continued to focus on customer acquisition, CVM, improving channel footprint and
reducing churn. To this end, we reported 132 000 postpaid net additions on the back of a continued improvement in the
consumer segment. While our enterprise business remains challenged, we now have the leadership team in place, and are
executing on a turnaround plan focused on improving customer retention and acquisition. Prepaid net additions in the
quarter came in at 536 000.
On 30 April 2018 the regulator published the End User and Subscriber Service Charter Amendment Regulations which
included amended rules around the roll over of unused data. We are currently reviewing these regulations to assess their
impact.
MTN NIGERIA
MTN Nigeria continued with the positive momentum of 2017, increasing service revenue by 14,4% YoY, led by a 73,2%
increase in data revenue and 15,2% growth in voice revenue. While the increase in voice revenue was encouraging, it
was supported by the lower customer spend on VAS. As growth in our digital services is expected to resume in the latter
part of the year, this may impact growth rates in voice revenue.
MTN Nigeria reported net additions in the quarter of 2,3 million following on from the 2,0 million adds in 4Q17 as
the business benefited from the increase in our SIM registration footprint. Focused on retaining network leadership,
we rolled out 298 3G and 174 4G sites in the quarter. The 4G rollout remains centred on the top 10 cities across
the country.
MTN Nigeria's stronger-than-expected growth in revenue allowed the business to benefit from increased scale. With
expenses well controlled, and the naira stable, the EBITDA margin expanded in the quarter to 41,8%.
SEAGHA REGION
MTN Ghana
MTN Ghana benefited from the improving macroeconomic environment and stable competitive environment. The operation
reported strong service revenue growth of 29,3% YoY, led by a 51,5% increase in data revenue. MoMo was a stand-out
performer, accounting for 15% of MTN Ghana's total revenue. The EBITDA margin increased further in the period to 42,0%.
The recently agreed technical services arrangement will reduce the margin by 5% from May 2018.
MTN Ghana reported good growth in subscribers in the quarter, with net additions of 484 000 to reach a total of
16,2 million subscribers. Active MoMo subscribers increased to 7,4 million and there were 6,6 million active data
subscribers.
MTN Uganda
Following a slower prior quarter (4Q17), MTN Uganda experienced a positive first quarter with service revenue growth
of 8,0%. MoMo revenue increased by 21,8% to contribute 25% of total revenue. Voice revenue growth in the period was more
muted, with growth of 3,4% despite a 33,6% increase in billable minutes. Tariffs declined by 32,6% YoY. MTN Uganda
reported net additions for the quarter of 149 000.
Other SEAGHA
Across the balance of the SEAGHA region the subscriber base increased by 3,6% QoQ, with Rwanda, Zambia, Swaziland and
South Sudan all contributing positively to subscriber growth.
WECA REGION
MTN Ivory Coast
After a challenging second half period in 2017, MTN Ivory Coast service revenue remained under pressure, declining
by 2,6% YoY. This was largely on the back of a 11,4% decline in voice revenue. Data and digital revenue increased by
13,0% and 34,2% respectively.
Total subscribers increased in the period with net additions of 49 000. The business recorded continued growth in MoMo
subscribers to 2,3 million and an increase in active data users to 2,7 million.
Regulatory rules disallowing differential pricing for on-net and off-net tariffs and the significant reduction in
leased line prices at the end of 1Q17 are now behind us and we should see improving trends for the balance of the year.
MTN Cameroon
As noted at our full-year results, MTN Cameroon remains a challenged market which recorded a worsening operating
performance throughout 2017. Service revenue in the current period declined by 6,8% YoY with the associated pressure on
YoY margins. Notwithstanding the weaker start to the year, we remain confident of the business returning to positive growth
in the second half of the year.
Voice revenue declined by 16,6% YoY while data and digital revenue grew by an encouraging 15,7% and 106,0%
respectively. MoMo revenue increased by 700% to account for 4,1% of service revenue.
Other WECA
Across the balance of the WECA region the subscriber base declined by 2,3% QoQ, driven by a decline in subscribers in
Congo-Brazzaville. Guinea-Conakry, Liberia and Guinea-Bissau all contributed positively in the period.
MENA REGION
MTN Irancell
MTN Irancell reported service revenue growth of 15,2%, supported by data and digital growth of 50,7% and 21,3%
respectively. The data growth was affected by the restriction of select internet services during January as well as
increased competitive activities in the period. Voice revenue remain under pressure and declined by 12,9% YoY.
At the beginning of April 2018 the Iranian government announced that there would be a single currency rate going
forward, effectively merging the official central bank rate and the open market rate at 42 000 rials to the US dollar.
This was an effective 11,4% decline in the central bank rate. MTN Irancell repatriated approximately €30 million in the
quarter.
Other MENA
Across the balance of the MENA region the subscriber base declined by 1,3% QoQ, led by a decline in subscribers in
Yemen and Afghanistan. Sudan and Cyprus contributed positively to the region's subscriber base.
The financial information on which this quarterly update is based, including constant currency information, has not
been reviewed and reported on by MTN's external auditors. Constant currency information has been presented to illustrate
the impact of changes in currency rates on the group's results. In determining the change in constant currency terms,
the current financial reporting period's results have been adjusted to the prior period average exchange rates determined
as the average of the monthly exchange rates. The measurement has been performed for each of the group's currencies,
materially being that of the US dollar and Nigerian naira. The constant currency growth percentage has been calculated
based on the current year constant currency results compared to the prior year results. In addition, in respect of MTN
Irancell, MTN Sudan, MTN South Sudan and MTN Syria, the constant currency information has been prepared excluding the
impact of hyperinflation. Hyperinflation accounting was discontinued for MTN Irancell and MTN Sudan on 1 July 2015 and
1 July 2016 respectively. The economy of South Sudan was assessed to be hyperinflationary effective 1 January 2016, and
hyperinflation accounting was applied from December 2016 onwards.
Fairland
3 May 2018
Sponsor
Deutsche Securities (SA) Proprietary Limited
Subscribers
('000)
Modernised Modernised
Country 1Q17 2Q17 3Q17 4Q17 1Q18 QoQ%
South Africa 30 231 31 216 30 908 29 516 29 806 1,0
Postpaid 5 161 5 194 5 227 5 357 5 489 2,5
Prepaid 25 070 26 022 25 681 24 159 24 317 0,7
Nigeria 60 523 53 094 50 308 52 273 54 529 4,3
SEAGHA 40 837 40 982 41 102 38 660 39 737 2,8
Ghana 16 789 17 304 17 590 15 667 16 151 3,1
Uganda 10 861 11 158 10 806 10 707 10 856 1,4
Rwanda 4 210 3 510 3 575 3 413 3 574 4,7
Zambia 5 505 5 575 5 695 5 485 5 638 2,8
South Sudan 708 685 691 663 762 15,0
Botswana 1 784 1 763 1 746 1 746 1 746 -
Swaziland 981 987 999 979 1 010 3,2
WECA 31 354 31 929 32 953 29 134 28 610 (1,8)
Cameroon 9 749 9 541 9 447 7 052 6 596 (6,5)
Ivory Coast 10 399 11 018 11 619 10 922 10 971 0,4
Benin 4 162 4 273 4 280 4 358 4 358 -
Conakry 2 493 2 550 2 696 2 648 2 655 0,2
Congo B 2 355 2 345 2 481 2 532 2 373 (6,3)
Liberia 1 495 1 412 1 635 881 915 3,9
Bissau 700 789 795 742 742 -
MENA 73 868 74 547 74 957 67 648 68 629 1,4
Iran (joint venture) 48 118 49 041 49 539 43 257 44 551 3,0
Syria 5 915 5 915 5 915 5 617 5 617 -
Sudan 7 604 7 576 7 450 7 582 7 670 1,2
Yemen 5 221 5 110 5 089 4 371 4 193 (4,1)
Afghanistan 6 597 6 469 6 516 6 400 6 172 (3,6)
Cyprus 414 436 447 421 426 1,2
Total subscribers 236 813 231 768 230 228 217 231 221 311 1,9
ARPU
(Local currency)
Country 1Q17 2Q17 3Q17 4Q17 1Q18^ QoQ%
South Africa 84,79 85,24 88,12 96,80 96,14 (0,7)
Postpaid 147,05 148,97 149,70 160,42 141,80 (11,6)
Postpaid (excluding telemetry) 264,52 268,57 272,40 296,90 262,43 (11,6)
Prepaid 72,06 72,32 75,87 82,84 77,19 (6,8)
Nigeria 1 131,00 1 171,00 1 407,73 1 483,52 1 493,09 0,6
SEAGHA
Ghana 12,90 15,92 16,45 18,15 20,13 10,9
Uganda 7 635,00 7 399,00 7 699,00 8 455,00 7 914,00 (6,4)
Rwanda 1 413,31 1 696,89 2 061,66 2 085,71 1 960,18 (6,0)
Zambia 21,80 24,54 27,82 31,45 27,57 (12,3)
South Sudan 198,44 257,39 267,73 393,34 477,84 21,5
Botswana 64,65 69,00 69,00 76,26 76,26 -
Swaziland 102,69 101,16 95,89 108,46 92,83 (14,4)
WECA
Cameroon 1 844,00 1 850,00 1 884,00 2 440,00 2 518,35 3,2
Ivory Coast 2 683,85 2 530,85 2 236,02 2 355,54 2 261,27 (4,0)
Benin 3 283,25 2 962,55 2 793,69 2 643,54 2 941,08 11,3
Conakry 19 926,34 20 093,59 19 890,34 19 091,33 18 426,75 (3,5)
Congo B 4 031,72 4 328,90 3 788,47 3 211,45 3 263,37 1,6
Liberia 2,44 2,59 2,44 3,88 3,47 (10,6)
Bissau 2 157,54 2 691,26 2 182,31 2 133,76 2 153,93 0,9
MENA
Iran (joint venture) 128 907,00 134 721,00 143 178,00 169 151,00 159 303,00 (5,8)
Syria 1 013,91 1 024,15 1 111,89 1 083,76 1 032,71 (4,7)
Sudan 24,00 25,13 26,18 29,91 35,25 17,8
Yemen 793,79 824,79 843,85 912,72 921,59 1,0
Afghanistan 102,76 117,50 126,09 118,75 116,92 (1,5)
Cyprus 16,08 16,03 15,83 16,53 16,84 1,9
^ IFRS 15 - Revenue from Contracts with Customers has been implemented with effect from 1 January 2018 and
comparative numbers have been restated where appropriate.
ARPU
(US dollar)
Country 1Q17 2Q17 3Q17 4Q17 1Q18^ QoQ%
South Africa 6,34 6,51 6,69 7,12 8,06 13,2
Nigeria 3,60 3,61 4,31 4,24 4,14 (2,3)
SEAGHA
Ghana 2,87 3,67 3,73 4,05 4,50 11,1
Uganda 2,11 2,06 2,14 2,32 2,17 (6,5)
Rwanda 1,74 2,03 2,45 2,46 2,32 (5,7)
Zambia 2,27 2,68 3,05 3,14 2,82 (10,2)
South Sudan 1,84 2,19 2,27 3,14 3,60 14,7
Botswana 6,17 6,70 6,50 7,60 7,60 -
Swaziland 7,75 7,72 7,28 7,98 7,78 (2,5)
WECA
Cameroon 2,98 3,17 3,40 4,32 4,66 7,9
Ivory Coast 4,33 4,35 3,99 4,17 4,19 0,5
Benin 5,30 5,09 4,99 4,68 5,45 16,6
Conakry 2,16 2,24 2,21 2,12 2,05 (3,4)
Congo B 6,51 7,43 6,78 5,72 5,94 3,8
Liberia 2,44 2,59 2,44 3,88 3,47 (10,6)
Bissau 3,48 4,62 3,90 3,78 3,99 5,5
MENA
Iran (joint venture) 3,86 3,84 4,35 4,87 4,32 (11,3)
Syria 1,96 1,98 2,15 2,29 2,37 3,5
Sudan 3,59 3,76 3,92 2,79 1,45 (48,0)
Yemen 3,17 3,29 3,11 2,34 2,38 1,7
Afghanistan 1,52 1,72 1,84 1,73 1,69 (2,3)
Cyprus 17,10 20,07 18,62 19,53 20,64 5,7
^ IFRS 15 - Revenue from Contracts with Customers has been implemented with effect from 1 January 2018 and
comparative numbers have been restated where appropriate.
Average exchange rates
ZAR:LC
strengthening/
March March (weakening)
ZAR: local currency 2018 2017 %
Naira 30,20 23,46 28,7
Rial 3 089,54 2 445,11 26,4
Cedi 0,38 0,33 15,2
Cameroon XAF 45,86 46,04 (0,4)
Uganda shilling 304,79 267,87 13,8
Syrian pound 36,59 38,67 (5,4)
Sudanese pound 2,04 0,50 308,0
LC:USD
strengthening/
March March (weakening)
USD: local currency 2018 2017 %
ZAR 11,92 13,34 11,9
Naira 360,24 314,01 (12,8)
Rial 36 848 32 706 (11,2)
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