Category: M1
TELCOs – DBSV
4G pricing is an ultimate cure
- M1 & StarHub to price 4G services significantly higher than 3G. Players with bigger exposure to the mobile sector will benefit more
- Even if we ignore the impact of lower data-caps StarHub’s FY13F/14F earnings could benefit 4%/8%, marginal impact for SingTel.
- Raise StarHub’s TP to S$3.67 assuming DPS of 22 Scts in FY13F, implying 6% yield. HOLD SingTel for 5% yield, intense competition in India, Australia and startup cost for mobile advertising as key concerns
4G pricing to correct 3G’s too generous data pricing in Singapore. In June, SingTel lowered the data-caps to 2GB from 12GB. During the 3G era, c.22% of M1’s users exceeded the 2GB limit without paying an extra cent. With higher 4G speeds (five times higher than 3G), more users are likely to exceed the 2GB data-cap to end up paying S$5.35 per extra GB. In addition, SingTel will charge S$10.70 per GB for exceeding the data-cap from Jan 2013 onwards. M1 took it one step further in September and announced that it will charge an additional S$10.70 in subscription fees for 4G versus its 3G ARPU of S$53. StarHub has also put in place higher 4G pricing of an additional S$10.70 for 4G plans from March 31, 2013 onwards when its 4G coverage will be significantly higher. StarHub will charge slightly higher S$6.42 per GB for exceeding the datacap. An additional S$10 per month works out to be 19% of M1’s, 14% of StarHub’s and 12% of SingTel’s reported postpaid ARPUs.
4G penetration of 8% in 2013F, 20% in 2014F. These projections are based on experience in countries like the US where 4G penetration reached around 9% after 18 months of launch, while in Korea, penetration hit 17% after 13 months of launch. 4G network coverage and handset availability are the two most important factors. However, 4G is not priced at a premium in the above countries, hence 4G adoption could be slightly slower in Singapore despite the widespread 4G network.
Robust longer-term outlook for the sector. We raise StarHub FY13F DPS to 22 Scts versus our expectations of 21 Scts earlier on better longer-term outlook and a very low FY12F net debt to EBITDA ratio of only 0.5x. In our DDM model, we assume 8% cost of equity, 2% long-term growth rate and 22 Scts DPS. However, upside for StarHub is limited as 22 Scts DPS is already reflected in the share price.
M1 – Kim Eng
Singing the 4G Tune
No big splash from 4G. Come 15 Sept, M1 will be the second telco in Singapore to launch 4G plans after SingTel. Its prices and data caps are closely in line with SingTel’s and we do not expect a price war to erupt. While ARPU should be boosted as they are priced at a premium to existing 3G plans, the impact on earnings is at best 10%, by our estimates. Maintain HOLD. However, M1 is our top telco pick for its attractive dividend yield of 5.7%, the highest in Singapore currently.
4G plans launched. M1 has launched four 4G plans for smartphones and three for mobile broadband devices, the second telco to do so after SingTel. Immediately, three things are notable. First, the 4G plans are priced at a premium to its 3G plans. Second, it has reduced its data bundles from 12GB to mirror that of SingTel’s (2GB, 3GB, 5GB). Third, as expected, M1 has removed its top-end unlimited plan and replaced it
with a lower cap 12GB data plan.
Should not rock the boat. M1’s 4G plans are rational as they are actually priced at a premium to SingTel’s 4G plans. As such, we do not expect net-adds to spike. However, the additional 1GB data allowance to be given for recontracting customers (worth SGD10.70) should equalise the price difference between the two telcos, hence it should minimise the churn and maintain its existing subscriber base. Over time however, the premium to 3G should boost its ARPUs.
Potentially 10% earnings upside. According to M1, 80% of its smartphone users uses less than 2GB of data a month, and less than 10% uses more than 5GB a month. Similarly, 80-90% of SingTel and StarHub’s users consume an average of only 1GB a month. As a result, they should be able to tap on 10-20% of their subscriber base to monetise the lower data caps. Depending on the actual usage, we estimate up to 9.6% upside to FY13 earnings in the best case scenario.
Maintain HOLD. We maintain HOLD on M1 with a target price of SGD2.65 based on peer average PE of 14x earnings as we roll forward to 2013. However, the stock is attractive on its dividend yield of 5.7%, still 430 basis points ahead of the 10-year Singapore Government Bond, and is our top Singapore telco pick.
M1 – Kim Eng
Singing the 4G Tune
No big splash from 4G. Come 15 Sept, M1 will be the second telco in Singapore to launch 4G plans after SingTel. Its prices and data caps are closely in line with SingTel’s and we do not expect a price war to erupt. While ARPU should be boosted as they are priced at a premium to existing 3G plans, the impact on earnings is at best 10%, by our estimates. Maintain HOLD. However, M1 is our top telco pick for its attractive dividend yield of 5.7%, the highest in Singapore currently.
4G plans launched. M1 has launched four 4G plans for smartphones and three for mobile broadband devices, the second telco to do so after SingTel. Immediately, three things are notable. First, the 4G plans are priced at a premium to its 3G plans. Second, it has reduced its data bundles from 12GB to mirror that of SingTel’s (2GB, 3GB, 5GB). Third, as expected, M1 has removed its top-end unlimited plan and replaced it
with a lower cap 12GB data plan.
Should not rock the boat. M1’s 4G plans are rational as they are actually priced at a premium to SingTel’s 4G plans. As such, we do not expect net-adds to spike. However, the additional 1GB data allowance to be given for recontracting customers (worth SGD10.70) should equalise the price difference between the two telcos, hence it should minimise the churn and maintain its existing subscriber base. Over time however, the premium to 3G should boost its ARPUs.
Potentially 10% earnings upside. According to M1, 80% of its smartphone users uses less than 2GB of data a month, and less than 10% uses more than 5GB a month. Similarly, 80-90% of SingTel and StarHub’s users consume an average of only 1GB a month. As a result, they should be able to tap on 10-20% of their subscriber base to monetise the lower data caps. Depending on the actual usage, we estimate up to 9.6% upside to FY13 earnings in the best case scenario.
Maintain HOLD. We maintain HOLD on M1 with a target price of SGD2.65 based on peer average PE of 14x earnings as we roll forward to 2013. However, the stock is attractive on its dividend yield of 5.7%, still 430 basis points ahead of the 10-year Singapore Government Bond, and is our top Singapore telco pick.
M1 – OCBC
LTE is still 2013 story at best
- Nationwide LTE network from 15 Sep
- Limited by few 4G handsets
- Yield still attractive; BUY
Launches nationwide 4G LTE Network
M1 Ltd will launch its nationwide 4G LTE network in Singapore on 15 Sep, where it will offer 95% coverage for indoor and outdoor areas (but not in the MRT tunnels yet). Although SingTel introduced its 4G LTE services in Jun, it will be looking to achieve 80% coverage by end-2012, and over 95% by 1Q13. StarHub also just announced that it will offer its 4G LTE services in key business areas from 19 Sep and achieve nationwide coverage by 2013.
4G plans at a premium
M1 has also announced new pricing plans for its 4G LTE and 3G bundles, which now start with just 2G of data (versus 12G data previously). More interestingly, M1 has decided to price its 4G at a premium to its 3G plans, costing subscribers some S$10.70 more per month (StarHub is doing the same). The plans are also slightly more expensive (S$3 to S$10 more) than similar plans from SingTel (which has same prices for its 4G and 3G plans).
Limited 4G handsets
While the 4G premiums could be a minor stumbling block (but unlikely to deter early adopters), the bigger stumbling block is likely to come from the limited 4G handsets that are available. Currently, there are only four phones and two tablets that work on Singapore’s LTE network. However, this could change with the launch of the new iPhone 5, which is widely touted to be LTE-enabled.
LTE still a 2013 story at best
In any case, we believe that 4G LTE is still more of a 2013 story at best, as the mass market may still take some time to convert their 3G handsets to 4G. As such, we have not factored in any significant contribution from LTE until 2014 in our model. We continue to like M1 for its defensive earnings and relatively attractive dividend yield of 5.3%. Maintain BUY with an unchanged DCF-based fair value of S$2.80.
M1 – CIMB
Matching SingTel’s 4G prices
M1 does not appear to be trying to claw back market share, judging from the pricing of its new 4G small screen data plans, which closely mirror that of SingTel. M1 priced its 4G plans 5-27% above its 3G plans and 2-3% below SingTel’s.
Not surprisingly, it reduced its data bundles, mirroring SingTel, to better monetise data. The pricier 4G plans and reduced data bundles will help bolster its ARPUs. We maintain Neutral on M1 with a DCF-based target price (WACC 7.6%) and advocate a switch to StarHub, which offers higher dividend yields and potential for capital management.
What Happened
M1 launched new small and large screen data plans and introduced nationwide 4G services. The key takeaways from the unveiling are:
1) M1’s 4G plans are S$10.70/month or 5-27% more expensive than its equivalent 3G plans and 2-3% below similar SingTel plans.
2) M1 reduced voice bundles, threw in more SMS and raised the price of its top-end plan marginally compared to its previous small screen data plans (Figures 1 and 2).
3) Not surprisingly, it divided data bundles from a flat 12GB to tiered amounts of 2GB, 3GB, 5GB and 12GB, mirroring SingTel.
4) M1 also launched 4G large screen data plans.
The key difference between the operators’ plans is recontracting M1 users will be given extra 1GB data on the new small and large screen plans.
What We Think
We view M1’s upward repricing and tiering of data bundles positively but they are unlikely to help the telco claw back market share (Figure 5) as they are very similar to that of SingTel. Throwing in 1GB extra for recontracting users will help it retain customers but, overall, will not appeal to non-M1 customers. SingTel’s offerings are still more attractive as it also offers bundling discounts for pay TV and broadband. That said, the pricier 4G plans and reduced data bundles will help M1 bolster its ARPUs will help bolster its ARPUs.
What You Should Do
Switch out to StarHub, our top telco pick for its potential to raise dividends or undertake a one-off capital repayment, especially following its plan to sell bonds. M1 lacks re-rating catalysts and the above developments do not change our view.