Hathway Cable & Datacom LtdQ3 FY17Entertainment

Hathway Cable & Datacom Ltd

Q3 FY17 Earnings Call Analysis

Management growth scorecard

Revenue

Category 3

Margin

Category 3

Fundraise

N/A

Order

N/A

Capex

Yes

1 of 3 growth signals are positive — mixed outlook.

Full analysis

Revenue guidance

Category 3

→Broadband revenue growth is expected to come from acquiring more high-usage consumers (100+ GB/month) and increasing net additions, with signs of improvement post-September 2017 as churn stabilizes and consumer retention improves.
→Phase III and Phase IV cable markets are anticipated to drive ARPU growth, moving from current Rs.30-41 levels to Rs.60 and eventually Rs.90, through increased digitization and higher-quality offerings.
→Introduction of HD boxes and connected (internet) TV boxes in Phase II, III, and IV markets will further enhance ARPU and revenue growth in upcoming quarters.
→Cost reductions via process re-engineering and automation bolster EBITDA, supporting sustainable revenue growth without compromising consumer value.
→The GPON Fiber-to-Home rollout targeting premium consumers with high speeds (up to 200 Mbps) and data limits (1000 GB/month) is expected to yield higher ARPU and stickiness.
→Monetization of Phase III and Phase IV cable boxes is a key focus area to accelerate revenue growth in next two quarters.

Margin guidance

Category 3

→Broadband business PAT increased 50% from Q1 to Q2 FY2018, reaching Rs. 15.3 Crores, indicating strong profit growth momentum.
→EBITDA for broadband and CATV combined rose 12% QoQ and 63% YoY, demonstrating consistent earnings expansion.
→Focus on increasing revenue through higher ARPUs in Phase III and IV markets, with expected ARPU growth towards Rs. 60-90 over time.
→Broadband growth driven by added subscribers (100,000 added in calendar year), though revenue growth is tempered due to value-added packs with longer pay terms.
→Cost reduction and process automation initiatives expected to sustain EBITDA margins above 40%, supporting robust operating profits.
→GPON technology upgrades offer higher ARPU (Rs. 100 incremental) with better EBITDA margins (~5% higher), contributing to future operating profit improvement.
→ARPU expected to stabilize for next 18 months with revenue growth relying on new customer additions.
→Monetization of digital phases and advanced broadband services underpin earnings growth outlook.

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Fundraise plans

→There is no specific mention of any current or future new fundraising through debt or equity in the transcript.
→The company reported a reduction in net debt by Rs.108 Crores compared to Q1 of FY2018, indicating focus on debt reduction rather than raising new debt.
→Gross debt stands at Rs.1,621 Crores, with net debt at Rs.1,578 Crores as of Q2 FY2018.
→The management's focus is on cost optimization, EBITDA growth, and organic expansion in broadband and cable segments.
→No announcements or indications of plans for new fundraising through debt or equity were discussed during this concall.

Order book

The transcript does not contain any specific information regarding Current or Expected Orderbook or Pending Orders for Hathway Cable & Datacom Limited. The focus of the call was primarily on operational performance, broadband business growth, ARPU trends, digitalization progress, partnerships with OTT platforms, cost optimization, competitive environment, and regulatory updates. There were no discussions or disclosures related to orderbook or pending orders during this Q2 FY2018 concall.

Capex plans

Yes

→Incremental capex per subscriber for GPON fiber-to-home upgrade is around Rs. 3,000 with a payback period of about 30 months.
→Capex per broadband subscriber on GPON has fallen to around Rs. 8,000 or below.
→No significant incremental capex for DOCSIS 3 to 3.1 upgrades as prices have fallen and technology pricing is equivalent.
→Investments ongoing in GPON fiber deployment primarily in premium areas where DOCSIS penetration has already reached 20%.
→Digital transformation initiatives involve automation, process re-engineering, and right-sizing operations to achieve structural cost savings.
→Phase IV network seeding completed and monetization efforts underway.
→Pilots underway to leverage synergies between video and broadband businesses, with strategic propositions being tested in select markets.
→Investment in new data centers and content hosting alliances (e.g., Facebook server hosting, Microsoft cloud services) to improve broadband user experience and stickiness.

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