YTL optimistic on new 4G LTE service

KUALA LUMPUR: YTL Power International Bhd is banking on the commercial launch of its new 4G LTE service to help make its communications business profitable.
However, YTL Corp Bhd managing director Tan Sri Francis Yeoh Sock Ping was non-committal as to when Yes, the 4G mobile brand under YTL Communications, will return to black.
“At the end of day, money and profit is fine. More importantly is the rural people don’t feel they’re at the short end of the stick,” he said when asked of how soon the company can recoup its huge investment of RM4 billion over the past five years to bring new communications solutions and technologies.
“If you look at how profitable the mobile phone market was, mobile data should be profitable ... it has been challenging with five years of losses, but we hope to report a much better performance,” he added.
Yeoh noted that Yes is the first mobile operator in the country to introduce voice-over-LTE capability for high definition and crystal clear calls.
“I think the take-up will be very high. With the data that we provide, we already can see the trend ...we believe that our new 4G LTE network will dramatically change the landscape of mobile services throughout the country,” he opined.
YTL Communications Sdn Bhd CEO Wing K Lee said Yes’ “Double Data” bucket price plan will allow all users access to both 4G LTE and 4G broadband networks with a single service plan.
“With our amazing plan at RM70 per month, consumers will get 24GB of data comprising 16GB of 4G LTE and 8GB of 4G broadband with a free Yes Altitude phone” he said.
On a separate note, Yeoh is of the view that Brexit will offer more opportunities for YTL to acquire assets there with a competitive pricing following the slump in the pound sterling.
“For us, we only buy long-term businesses, so we don’t worry about the short term exchange rates. We can’t buy assets that are priced too high,” he said.
On Tuesday, YTL Power said it is unable to quantify the effect of Brexit on its business operations for the time being. It has an exposure in the water industry in the UK. It was responding to a verbal query by Bursa Malaysia on the potential Brexit impact on the group.