SingTel profit jumps 83% in first half on Indonesia gain

Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) reported an 83 per cent rise in half-yearly profit on Thursday, helped by a gain related to regional associate Telkomsel's integration with IndiHome and higher contributions from its other divisions.

Telkomsel, the Indonesian associate of Southeast Asia's largest telecom firm, had agreed to merge with its parent's IndiHome broadband arm in an effort to expand into Indonesia's fixed broadband market.

The deal was expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2023. SingTel owns a 29.6 per cent stake in the enlarged integrated mobile and fixed broadband company.

"For Telkomsel, first-time contributions from IndiHome largely offset the impact of SingTel's reduced stake," the company said in a statement. It had earlier a 35 per cent stake in Telkomsel.

SingTel said its net profit for the six months ended September 30 was S$2.14 billion ($1.58 billion), compared with S$1.17 billion a year earlier.

The company declared an interim dividend of 5.2 Singapore cents per share, higher than the 4.6 Singapore cents per share declared a year earlier.