Emtel has reported a remarkable performance that reflects the strength of the strategic foundations established in previous years. Emtel’s revenues for the quarter ending 31 March 2026 crossed the Rs 1 billion mark, up from the Rs 985 million recorded in the corresponding period last year. Disciplined execution across all segments, coupled with continued customer growth and increasing engagement across mobile, residential, enterprise and Fintech solutions, were among the key factors contributing to this strong performance.
Commenting on the results, Marcelo Aleman, Chief Executive Officer of Emtel, stated that this performance is “a direct reflection of the Group’s sustained investment in cutting-edge infrastructure, digital platforms and human capital. Revenue growth has remained on a healthy upward trajectory, driven by rigorous execution discipline; this approach, combined with strict cost control, has led to a continued improvement in profitability.”
While revenues from Emtel’s various services benefited from an 8.2% increase to reach Rs 977 million, EBITDA for the quarter ending 31 March 2026 now stands at Rs 528 million, representing a 9.8% improvement compared to the Rs 481 million recorded in the corresponding period last year. As for the underlying profit before tax, it amounts to Rs 218 million, reflecting a rise of 19.8%.
Following the completion of the main 5G and fibre deployment programmes within the strategic cycle, capital expenditure is declining, which has enabled the company to boost its cash flows. At the end of this first quarter, net debt stands at Rs 2.7 billion, with an average maturity of 2.8 years and an average cost of 4.66%, demonstrating effective cash and liquidity management.
Human capital at the heart of Emtel’s strategy
“Our people remain, now more than ever, the cornerstone of our strategy, as they are the very source of our competitive advantage. In everything we do, trust is more than just a word — it is the way we behave with one another, with our customers and with every partner who depends on us, while speed is not merely a goal — it is the very essence of how we execute, every single day without exception,” revealed Marcelo Aleman.
For the Chief Executive Officer, this is one of the reasons why “we have continued to invest in the professional development of our people, equipping every team with the skills, tools and mindset needed to excel in a rapidly evolving digital environment. After all, a culture built on trust and speed can only thrive if our people put it into practice every day.”
It is in this context of financial resilience that the Board of Directors declared an interim dividend of Rs 0.77 per share on 7 May 2026 in respect of the financial year ending 31 December 2026, representing a total distribution of Rs 350.7 million, with payment expected around 15 June 2026.
While this interim dividend reflects the Board’s confidence in the Group’s financial strength and its commitment to delivering sustainable returns to shareholders, the company nonetheless adopts a cautious approach given the geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the uncertainties weighing on the global economic environment. “We cannot afford to ignore the challenges ahead and their impact on businesses. However, we remain resolutely focused on customer satisfaction and operational excellence — two fundamental pillars that strengthen loyalty and resilience, thereby helping to cushion the effects of external geopolitical shocks,” added Marcelo Aleman.
The drivers behind this strong performance
During this first quarter, Emtel focused on network optimisation, capacity enhancement and the sustainability of quality assurance, in order to ensure that its infrastructure remains fully equipped to meet the growing demands of both individual and business customers.
Spanning approximately 750 km across the island, the fibre optic network continued to serve a growing base of residential and corporate customers, including those from Smart Cities, residential estates, apartment buildings and commercial developments. Robust international submarine connectivity also strengthened the Group’s ability to support growing data consumption and Business Continuity requirements on a global scale.
Designed to deliver secure, compliant and low-latency hosting services, Emtel’s sovereign cloud platform continued to attract growing interest from Corporate customers during this first quarter.
With regard to the blink fintech platform, it maintained positive commercial momentum through the continued growth of onboarded customers and merchants, as well as transaction volumes. As a result, blink is well positioned to gain market share, particularly through the launch of new products and the expansion of its merchant network planned for the remainder of the year.
