Report
Russell Waller

New Street: EU TELECOMS: Leverage - not as important as you might think (including for dividends)

It seems a little odd to be looking back, when everyone wants to look forward at the moment, but it is worth remembering that the sector has been performing well for several quarters now, with good steady progression in financial performance: for example, total European service revenue was +0.3% y/y from -0.3% y/y in Q3 19.
Underlyings
Deutsche Telekom AG

Deutsche Telekom is engaged in the telecommunications services and information technology sectors. Co. operates as an integrated telecommunications provider. It is organized into four operating segments: Germany, Europe, and the United States; and Systems Solutions, as well as Group Headquarters and Shared Services. Co. provides fixed-network lines, broadband lines and mobile communications. Co. also provides customized Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions for corporate customers under the T-Systems brand. The Group Headquarters and Shared Services segment comprises cross-segment management functions, real estate services, and mobility solutions, among others.

Freenet AG

Freenet is a telecommunications provider in Germany. Co. provides its customers a portfolio of services and products, particularly in the field of mobile voice and data services. Co. does not operate its own network, but markets mobile communication services for the mobile network operators Telekom, Vodafone, E-Plus and O2 in Germany, under its own name and on its own account. Apart from its own network-independent postpaid, no-frills and prepaid services, Co. also provides the original network operators' tariffs. Co. operates within two segments: mobile communications and other/holding.

Hellenic Telecommunications Organization SA

Hellenic Telecommunications Organization is a full-service telecommunications group. Co. provides local, long-distance and international fixed-line telecommunications services in Greece and Romania, and mobile telephony services through its Cosmote subsidiary in Greece, as well as in Albania, Bulgaria, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Romania. Co. also provides internet access services and Internet Protocol (IP) -based telecommunications applications, as well as information technology application development and hosting services using IP technologies. Also, Co. provides several other telecommunications services, including value-added services and public telephone services.

Orange SA

Orange provides consumers, businesses and other telecommunications operators with a wide range of services including fixed telephony and mobile telecommunications, data transmission, Internet and multimedia, and other services. Co.'s portfolio comprises business lines (fixed-line, mobile, Internet), focusing on all customer segments (small and medium-sized businesses, multinationals), and personal and professional services for home, office, travel, and mobile. Co. manages eight operating segments: France, Poland, Spain, Rest of the Europe, Africa and Middle East, Other non-controlling equity interests, Enterprise Communication Services, and International Carriers and Shared Services.

Proximus SA de droit public

Proximus supplies integrated telecommunications services on the Belgian market. Co.'s activities are divided into four segments: Consumer Business Unit (CBU), which sells voice products and services, internet and television, on fixed and mobile networks, to residential customers; Enterprise Business Unit (EBU), which caters to professional customers; Service Delivery Engine and Wholesale, which centralizes all the network and IT services and costs, provides services to CBU and EBU and sells these services to other telecom and cable operators; and International Carrier Services, which focuses on international carrier activities.

Royal KPN NV

Koninklijke KPN is an integrated information and communications technology service provider. Co. provides its consumer customers data broadband services, IPTV services, mobile (voice, data and SMS) and fixed line telephony. Co. provides its business customers broadband services, mobile, fixed line and data services. Co. operates in the following segments: Consumer Mobile, which provides mobile services and products; Consumer Residential, which provides services in and around the house; Business, which provides fixed and mobile telephony services; NetCo, which includes fixed wholesale services; Belgium, which provides mobile telephony; and iBasis, which provides wholesale network services.

Swisscom AG

Swisscom is engaged in providing telecommunication services and is active in Switzerland and Italy. Co. has three operating divisions: Swisscom Switzerland, Fastweb; and Other Operating Segments. Co.'s Swisscom Switzerland divisions comprised of: Residential Customers; Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises; Enterprise Customers; Wholesale; and IT, Network & Innovation. Co.'s Fastweb segment supplies its fixed-network both directly via its own fiber-optic network and also via the unbundled fixed-access lines and wholesale products. Co.'s other operating segments provides ICT solutions for physicians, hospitals and insurers, develops and operates intelligent solutions for energy management.

TDC A/S

TDC is a provider of communications and entertainment solutions with positions in each of the major segments: landline telephony, landline broadband, mobility services and Pay-TV as well as the developing multi-play segment. Co. maintains a range of domestic brands covering all customer segments, channels and product categories in the residential and business markets. Co. provides technology platform and infrastructure services across all major access technologies: copper, coax, fiber and mobile. Co. also owns a cable-TV network in its domestic market. Co.'s operations are organized in six business segments: TDC Consumer; TDC Business; TDC Nordic; TDC Wholesale; YouSee; and TDC Operations.

Telecom Italia S.p.A.

Telecom Italia is a telecommunications group based in Italy. Co. is engaged in the communications sector and, particularly, the fixed and mobile national and international telecommunications sector, the television sector and the office products sector. Co. operates mainly in Europe, South America and the Mediterranean Basin. Co.'s operations are organized along two operating segments: Domestic - Italy (providing telephone and data services on fixed-line and mobile networks for final customers (retail) and other operators (wholesale)); and Brazil (operates in the mobile phone, fixed telephony, in long-distance and data transmission markets in Brazil).

Telefonica SA

Telefonica is engaged in the provision of public or private telecommunications services, including ancillary or complementary telecommunications services or related services. Co.'s fixed business includes: traditional fixed telecommunication services, Internet and broadband multimedia services, data and business-aplications services, and wholesale services for telecommunication operators. Co. also provides a range of mobile and related services and products to consumer and business customers, including mobile voice services, value added services, mobile data and Internet services, wholesale services, corporate services, roaming, fixed wireless, and, trunking and paging.

Telekom Austria AG

Telekom Austria is engaged as full service telecommunications providers of long distance, local and wireless services, corporate data communications services as well as internet services and television broadcasting. Co. generates revenues from fixed line services and mobile communication services to individuals, commercial and noncommercial organizations and other national and foreign carriers. To a lesser extent, Co. generates revenue from the sale of mobile communications handsets. Co. also supplies telephones and technical equipment for telephone communications. These activities are conducted primarily in Austria, Croatia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Macedonia and Belarus.

Telenor ASA

Telenor is a holding company. Through its subsidiaries, Co. operates as a telecommunication company. Co. provides mobile communication, fixed line communication, and broadcasting activities. Co.'s mobile communication business includes voice, data, Internet, content services, customer equipment and messaging. Fixed service comprise telephony, Internet and television (TV), leased lines as well as data services and managed services. Broadcast comprises Canal Digital DTH in the Nordics, satellite broadcasting, terrestrial radio and TV transmission in Norway and Belgium and encryption related services for TV distribution.

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Analysts
Russell Waller

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