BSE-quoted Botswana Telecommunications Corporation Limited (BTCL) is poised for a profit surge in the financial year ended March 31, 2025. The teleco’s latest trading update forecasts profit before tax of P254 million to P263 million, a 27 percent to 31 percent rise from 2024’s P200 million. The company says audited results, due by June 30, 2025, will share further details, with the board advising shareholder caution.
For the year ended March 31, 2024, BTCL posted P1.436 billion in revenue, up 3 percent, driven by fixed voice (30 percent of sales) and mobile data (33 percent). EBITDA was P200 million, with a 32.5 percent margin. Gross profit fell P7 million to P594 million due to a 7 percent rise in cost of goods sold. BTCL offset this with an 18 percent cut in administrative costs to P361 million and stable operating expenses of P647 million, boosting the operating margin to 10.6 percent from 8.5 percent. Profit before tax rose to P200 million, aided by P14.6 million more in interest income. Profit after tax hit P157.5 million, up P39.7 million. A 15 thebe per share dividend was declared.
BTC’s strategic push to upgrade infrastructure, swapping copper for fiber, has bolstered its nationwide network and service reliability. Mobile revenue grew 2 percent, and data revenue rose P13 million to P246.8 million, though fixed data fell to P16.4 million. A 2.5 percent CAGR decline from 2020-2024 reflects competition.
