First-quarter earnings still strong for AIS, Dtac, True

The three firms earned 101.80 billion baht in the first quarter, up 4 per cent versus 97.76 billion baht last year. However, their combined net profit was 6.88 billion baht, down 15 per cent from 8.09 billion baht last year.

Among the three, AIS had the highest first-quarter net profit at 6.64 billion baht, though it had dropped slightly from last year’s 6.75 billion baht. Dtac came in second with 822 million baht, down almost 50 per cent from last year’s 1.5 billion baht.

True, however, was the only company to suffer a loss of 581 million baht, compared to the loss of 161 million baht last year.

The drop in the three companies’ first-quarter net profit has been put down to Thailand’s slightly recovered business outlook, new spectrum licence fees and investment in projects related to the 5G network.