TPG Telecom

TPG Telecom Limited
Public company
Traded as ASX: TPM
Industry Telecommunications
Founded 1986 as Total Peripherals Group
Headquarters 65 Waterloo Road
North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
Area served
 Australia
Key people
 David Teoh (founder, executive chairman)
Services Internet service provider
Online television
Mobile telephony
Revenue IncreaseA$724.5 million (2013)[1]
IncreaseA$212.3 million (2013)[1]
Profit IncreaseA$149.2 million (2013)[1]
Total assets IncreaseA$998.8 million (2013)[1]
Total equity IncreaseA$716 million (2013)[1]
Number of employees
 1,400
Website tpg.com.au

TPG Telecom Limited is an Australian telecommunications and IT company that specialises in consumer and business internet services as well as mobile telephone services. As of 2013, TPG is the fourth largest internet service provider in Australia and operates the largest mobile virtual network operator. As such, it has over 671,000 ADSL2+ subscribers, 358,000 landline subscribers and 360,000 mobile subscribers, and owns the second largest ADSL2+ network in Australia, consisting of 391 ADSL2+ DSLAMs.

The company was formed from the merger between Total Peripherals Group, which was established in 1992 by David and Vicky Teoh, and SP Telemedia in 2008.

TPG provide five ranges of products and services including Internet access, networking, OEM services, mobile phone service and accounting software.

History

Total Peripherals Group was established in 1986 by Malaysian-born Australian businessman David Teoh, as an IT company that sold OEM computers and later moved to provide internet and mobile telephone services.[2]

In 2007, TPG took a 70 per cent controlling interest in then struggling Adelaide internet provider Chariot. David Teoh shored up TPG's role as Chariot's parent company a year later, in April 2008, and then quickly followed up with the $225 million reverse takeover of SP Telemedia to bring Soul, Chariot and TPG under the one banner.

Soul Converged Communications was an Australian telecommunications company based in Newcastle. Soul's main activities revolve around telecommunications, with business and home and small business divisions. By November 2004 Soul had acquired the assets of rival IP carrier Comindico. In April 2005, it bought a 42.9 per cent stake in mobile phone company B Digital. In September 2006 Soul increased its stake in B Digital to 74.6 per cent and made a full takeover offer.

In April 2008, SOT merged with Total Peripherals Group at a cost of $150 million in cash and $230 million in shares (approximately 80 million) with TPG Owner, David Teoh becoming the largest shareholder and Executive Chairman of the combined group.[3] On 25 November 2009, following shareholder approval, SP Telemedia Ltd (Trading as Soul) changed its name to TPG Telecom Ltd. The ASX code was changed also from SOT to TPM.[4]

Post-merger acquisitions

In November 2009, TPG, which already owned a substantial portion of PIPE Networks' shares, announced it intended to acquire the company.[5] TPG completed its acquisition of PIPE for $373 million by way of scheme of arrangement on 31 March 2010, after shareholders and government bodies approved the transaction. The acquisition allows TPG to gain full control of PIPE Networks' fibre optic network in Australia and the Pipe Pacific Cable (PPC-1), connecting Sydney to Guam.[6]

TPG, in a statement released on 14 July 2011, announced it intended to acquire IntraPower for $12.8 million. It was also stated in the statement that the Board of Directors of IntraPower recommended the shareholders of the company approve the transaction.[7] The acquisition was completed on 30 August, allowing TPG to benefit from TrustedCloud and other IntraPower products.[8]

On 9 December 2013, TPG purchased AAPT from Telecom New Zealand for $450 million.[9] The transaction allows TPG to gain control of AAPT's fibre-optic network, which extends across six Australian states and territories, and is estimated to be 11,000 km in length.[10] The transaction was expected to be finalised by February 2014.[11]

On 13 March 2015, TPG advised of its intent to take over Australia's 3rd Largest ISP iiNet at $AU 8.60 per share, giving a value of 1.4Bn; it is expected that the take-over will be completed by July 2015.[12] This will make TPG the 2nd largest ISP by customer volume after Telstra

TPG has offered $8.60 per iiNet share, on top of the entitlement to the already-declared 10.5 cent interim dividend, valuing iiNet at about 21 times its underlying net profit for 2014. The deal is subject to approval by shareholders, the court and, most importantly, the ACCC, which has flagged a review into the transaction. There’s also the possibility of a competing offer, with analysts suggesting Singapore Telecommunications-owned Optus as the most likely candidate.[13]

Ventures

On 7 May 2013, TPG won a $13.5 million bid for two 10Mhz spectra of the 2.5Ghz band. TPG, which operates a mobile virtual network, in a statement, announced that the network would allow it to offer "value-adding" wireless broadband products to its customers.[14] Although TPG did not reveal what the purpose of the spectra would be, the 2.5Ghz band is expected to be used as a 4G channel. The network will be switched on in October 2014.[15]

On 17 September 2013, during TPG's financial year results presentation, it was announced that the company plans on constructing fibre to the basement (FTTB) networks, capable of offering a bandwidth of 100Mbit/s, in five major capital cities. It was also estimated that the cost of the plans would be $69.99 per month, lower than the current price of NBN plans though it excludes initial connection and setup costs.[16] Although, final costs have yet to be determined, the network is expected to compete with the NBN, leading to calls from the research director of Ovum, David Kennedy, for NBN Co to respond competitively.[17]

Divisions

TPG Internet

TPG Internet sells many internet services, such as dialup, ADSL, ADSL2+, fiber and SHDSL broadband access, email services, website and domain name hosting, IPTV, VOIP solutions and virtual phone cards.

Unlimited broadband

On 24 September 2010, TPG introduced a phone-line bundled unlimited plan that included unlimited, unmetered uploads and downloads and free IPTV. TPG internet does not currently operate in Tasmania, Australia's sixth most populous state.[18]

IPTV

After a limited beta, TPG officially launched IPTV service on 12 June 2007.[19] IPTV is available to all ADSL2+ customers on supported exchanges.[20] It is not currently known when broadcasters from other licence areas will be provided on this service, or if the service currently available in Sydney will remain broadcasting. In the Sydney area, Free To Air Broadcasters are also made available.

The current channels, predominately news-oriented, are all free. Subscription-based channels are expected in the future.

TPG Systems

TPG Systems was an OEM of PCs, laptops and servers. This division of the company ceased trading in early 2004.

TPG Software

TPG Software, trading as Catsoft, makes and sells accounting software to businesses.

TPG Boomerang TV

TPG Boomerang TV was a subscription television service that operated using PAS 8.[21] It was launched in February 2000.[22]

TPG Mobile

TPG Mobile acts as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator for the Optus network since August 2008.

Subscribers

The number of active subscribers using the services TPG offers has increased steadily since the merger in 2008. As of July 2013, TPG has 671,000 ADSL2+ subscribers, 358,000 landline subscribers and 360,000 mobile subscribers, making it the fourth largest internet service provider and the largest mobile virtual network operator.[23][24] From July 2012 to July 2013, the number of mobile subscribers increased by 105,000 and the number of broadband subscribers by 76,000.[25]

Year Broadband subscribers Mobile subscribers
2009[26] 388,000 220,000 (130,000 Soul subscribers, 90,000 TPG subscribers)
2010[27] 488,000 201,000 (45,000 Soul subscribers, 156,000 TPG subscribers)
2011[28] 548,000 201,000 (9,000 Soul subscribers, 192,000 TPG subscribers)
2012[29] 595,000 255,000
2013[15][30] 671,000 360,000

ACCC lawsuit

A lawsuit over TPG's advertising campaigns was filed against TPG Telecom by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) in December 2010. The ACCC accused TPG of misleading its customers by advertising that its "unlimited" broadband package only cost $29.99 per month when the actual minimum monthly cost for the plan is $59.99. The ACCC also claimed in the lawsuit that TPG did not adequately disclose other costs associated with the setting up of the connection.[31] In response, TPG released a statement saying that it believes all costs were adequately noted in the advertisement and that it was "disappointed" with the ACCC's decision to bring the issue to court.[32] In November 2011, the Federal Court ruled against TPG and fined the company $2 million, however the fine was reduced to $50,000 after TPG appealed to the full bench of the Federal Court. The ACCC later filed an appeal in the High Court, which was approved in August 2013.[33]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "TPG – Preliminary Financial Report for Year ended on 31 July 2013" (PDF). TPG. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  2. ↑ "David Teoh – Profile". Forbes. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  3. ↑ "SP Telemedia to merge with TPG" (PDF). 7 February 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
  4. ↑ "ASX code changes 2009". 7 December 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-07.
  5. ↑ Colley, Andrew (17 March 2010). "TPG finalises Pipe buyout". The Australian. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
  6. ↑ "Soul/TPG buys Pipe Networks for $373m". 11 January 2009. Retrieved 2010-03-11.
  7. ↑ "TPG Telecom Limited: proposal to acquire IntraPower Limited" (PDF). Australian Securities Exchange. 14 July 2011. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
  8. ↑ "Takeover offer by TPG Telecom Limited for IntraPower Limited – Offer closed" (PDF). 30 August 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  9. ↑ "Telecom announces sale of AAPT for A$450 million". New Zealand Exchange. 9 December 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  10. ↑ Mason, Max (9 December 2013). "TPG to acquire AAPT for $450m from Telecom NZ". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  11. ↑ Taylor, Josh (9 December 2013). "TPG buys AAPT from Telecom NZ for AU$450m". ZDnet. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  12. ↑ http://investor.iinet.com.au/IRM/ShowDownloadDoc.aspx?SiteId=140&AnnounceGuid=9004979b-cd65-4740-91b7-1cce3bc38fa2
  13. ↑ Carlisle, James (13 March 2015). "TPG makes bid for iiNet". Intelligent Investor. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  14. ↑ Taylor, Josh (7 May 2013). "Telstra, Optus, TPG win 4G spectrum for AU$2 billion". ZDNet. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "2013 Annual Results Presentation" (PDF). TPG. 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  16. ↑ "TPG to build fibre to the basement". iTnews. 17 September 2013. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  17. ↑ Ramli, David, Hutchison, James (17 September 2013). "TPG fibre plan challenges NBN". The Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  18. ↑ "TPG one-ups itself in broadband battle". ZDNet. Retrieved 2010-09-26.
  19. ↑ "Whirlpool forum". whirlpool.net.au.
  20. ↑ "IPTV enabled exchanges". Retrieved 12 December 2010.
  21. ↑ "Provider adds cable to its Net orbit". The Australian. 24 November 1999. p. 29.
  22. ↑ Chester, Rodney (29 February 2000). "Pay TV plan to lift Net result". The Courier-Mail. p. 9.
  23. ↑ Morrell, Alex (3 July 2013). "Australian Telecom Couple David And Vicky Teoh Now Worth $1 Billion". Forbes. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  24. ↑ Adhikari, Suprati (8 May 2013). "TPG's spectrum surprise". Business Spectator. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  25. ↑ "2013 Annual Report" (PDF). TPG Telecom. 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  26. ↑ "2009 Final Results Presentation" (PDF). TPG. 2009. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  27. ↑ "2010 Final Results Presentation" (PDF). TPG. 2010. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  28. ↑ "2011 Final Year Results Presentation" (PDF). TPG. 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  29. ↑ "2012 Annual Report" (PDF). TPG. 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  30. ↑ "TPG Media Release" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-12-01.
  31. ↑ LeMay, Renai (20 December 2010). "ACCC sues TPG over $29.99 'Unlimited' plan". ARNnet. IDG. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
  32. ↑ LeMay, Renai (23 December 2010). "TPG ads: Has the ACCC gone too far?". Delimiter. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
  33. ↑ Ramli, David (19 August 2013). "High Court looms for ACCC vs TPG". The Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 21 November 2013.

External links