Report
James Ratzer

New Street: Something still looks wrong about the European telecoms sector

Six weeks ago we wrote a piece called “Something doesn’t look right about the European telecoms sector” where we highlighted key sector charts that didn’t sit comfortably with us. Now, having gone through a full earnings season and with more COVID-updates behind us, we review this work and find the conclusions even more surprising than before.
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.

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).

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.

Provider
New Street Research
New Street Research

Provided by our team of experienced analysts, our work is idea driven, based on independence of thought, sector expertise, and firmly focussed on fundamentals and valuation.

New Street Research is an independent, partner-owned, research firm specialising in equity and debt research. Our equity research embraces the following sectors:

  • Pan European Telecom Services and Cable
  • US Telecoms, Cable, Satellite and Towers
  • Global Emerging Market Telecoms
  • Japan Telecoms
  • Asian Internet
  • Pan European Healthcare
  • Global healthcare thematic research

We provide debt research on:

  • Pan European Telecom Services and Cable


Analysts
James Ratzer

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