Singtel hiked an early full-year guidance following strong fiscal H1 gains, forecasting high single-digit to low double-digit growth in its operating company’s EBIT.

Its previous guidance expected high single-digit EBIT growth for the full fiscal 2026 (ending 31 March 2026).

Group CEO Yuen Kuan Moon noted while the macroeconomic outlook remains challenging and the Optus business faces uncertainty after its emergency call service failed, “our business and geographical diversity is lending stability to the group’s performance”.

He added it expects the company’s growth engines to change the complexion of the business in “the mid-term as they to continue to scale”.

Net profit in the period nearly tripled year-on-year to SGD3.4 billion ($2.7 billion), aided by exceptional gains of SGD2 billion, mainly from the sale of part of its stake in Bharti Airtel as well as the Intouch-Gulf merger. Operating revenue was down 1.2 per cent to SGD6.9 billion.

Its regional associates’ after-tax profit contributions increased by 12 per cent to SGD920 million, with strong performances from Airtel and AIS in Thailand but lower contributions from Indonesia-based Telkomsel and Globe Telecom in the Philippines.

In Singapore, operating revenue was stable despite mobile service revenue falling 9.7 per cent to SGD601 million. Handset sales grew 5.6 per cent to SGD263 million, and data and fixed internet revenue was up nearly 2 per cent to SGD653 million.

Mobile subscribers slipped 1.2 per cent to 4.6 million, with ARPU down 2.1 per cent to SGD23. Monthly data usage rose 20.6 per cent to 17GB.

Sales at its ICT unit NCS increased 6.2 per cent to SGD1.5 billion; Digital Infraco revenue dipped 1.5 per cent to SGD216 million, dragged down by a decline in its data centre unit.

Its Australia business recorded 2.4 per cent growth in mobile service revenue to AUD2.8 billion. Equipment sales dropped 4.6 per cent to AUD681 million ($445 million).