Optus announced robust results for the 2025 financial year on Thursday, bolstered by significant mobile subscriber growth and strategic initiatives as it saw underlying earnings (EBITDA) surge 5.7%, with earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) up 55%.
The company – Australia’s second-largest telecommunications provider and a subsidiary of Singapore’s Singtel – is positioning the results as a signal that its transformation efforts are bearing fruit, even as it works to rebuild customer trust following a period of tumult.
“Optus is committed to providing real choice for telecommunications customers as we prioritise exceptional service, competitive offers and a reliable network,” CEO Stephen Rue said.
Mobile momentum powers profit jump
Optus grew its mobile customer base by 238,000 over the year, led by a standout performance from amaysim, its budget-friendly brand. Postpaid numbers also grew by 52,000, helping boost mobile service revenue by 4.1% and blended average revenue per user (ARPU) by 2.4%.
This uplift in mobile growth helped propel overall mobile revenue up 4.4% for the year. Device sales were also strong, with high-end smartphones driving a 5.2% rise in mobile equipment revenue.
In the second half alone, Optus reported a 4% increase in EBITDA and an impressive 52% leap in EBIT, thanks to customer growth, rising ARPU, and tight cost controls.
“While we still have work to do to rebuild trust with customers as we transform our business, these results demonstrate that we are on the right path and making solid progress,” Rue said.
Partnerships, other business lines
Optus was particularly active on the strategic front in the last financial year. The company noted that a new Multi-Operator Core Network agreement with TPG Telecom is already helping to accelerate 5G rollout across regional Australia, while a fresh five-year wholesale mobile deal with Aussie Broadband is set to offer consumers more choice.
Meanwhile, amaysim continued to evolve from a SIM-only player into a broader telco contender, launching NBN services and acquiring Circles.Life’s Australian customer base in February.
However, not all parts of the business are firing. Fixed and enterprise services continued to drag, with wholesale and enterprise & business fixed revenues falling 5.3% in the second half – the result of lower satellite project revenue and a general downturn in fixed-line services.
Home broadband held steadier, with total revenue up 3.9%, buoyed by a 9.1% lift in fixed wireless access revenue and a 3.5% rise in NBN earnings – both helped along by higher ARPU.
Optus’ performance fed into Singtel’s own strong showing for the 2025 financial year, with the group reporting a 9% jump in net profit and announcing a S$2 billion (A$1.55 billion) share buyback program.