Release of 09.02.2021
Thomas Arnoldner, CEO of A1 Telekom Austria Group, on the 2020 results:
"The operational and financial performance of A1 Telekom Austria Group in the financial year 2020 was significantly impacted by the COVID 19 pandemic. The results reflect the resilience of our business model and the positive impact of the measures taken in this challenging environment.
The Group continued to deliver a strong operational performance for the full year 2020 despite the operating environment. Revenues decreased slightly by 0.3%, while service revenues remained stable despite roaming losses and negative foreign exchange effects. Excluding foreign exchange and one-off effects, total revenues grew by 1.5%. Group EBITDA increased by 1.0%. The net result for 2020 was EUR 388.8 million, above the 2019 result.
We continue to benefit from our operational strength, efficiency and solid capital structure. We have succeeded in consistently reducing debt in recent years. In Austria alone, we again invested EUR 456.4 million, making us the largest investor in digital infrastructure. The strongly growing demand for high-performance networks requires more investments and continuous expansion. This is only possible with investment-friendly framework conditions. At the same time, these investments would also be a multiplier to grow out of the current crisis, increase innovative strength and secure long-term competitive advantages for Austria in global competition."
Alejandro Plater, COO of A1 Telekom Austria Group, continues:
"Austria showed a solid performance in 2020, with service revenues stable for the full year despite roaming losses, EBITDA grew by 1.7%.
CEE markets showed solid overall operational performance in 2020 due to fixed line growth and strong demand for mobile WiFi routers. Bulgaria recorded outstanding EBITDA growth at 7.3%. Croatia, as a tourist destination, particularly felt the roaming losses. Belarus showed a good operating performance, but suffered from strong negative foreign exchange effects.
In the CEE markets, EBITDA declined slightly by 0.5% in the full year 2020, as increasing fixed revenues only partially offset roaming losses and negative foreign exchange effects. Excluding one-offs and foreign exchange effects, EBITDA grew by 4.0%.
In our Group-wide, medium-term transformation program "Digital First" with more than 300 individual initiatives, the focus is clearly on operational efficiency to strengthen free cash flow.
The Covid 19 pandemic will continue to shape markets in 2021, but we are well prepared to take advantage of the growth opportunities that digitalization presents, while maintaining a strong focus on operational efficiency."
More information is available:
https://newsroom.a1.group/News.aspx?l=english