Maxis quarterly profit rises 8.5%, connectivity orders reach RM1.3 billion

Maxis Bhd reported RM447 million in net profit for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, up 8.5% from a year earlier, as service revenue increased and costs were contained. Total revenue reached RM2.68 billion, a gain of 3.7%, while service revenue was 1.1% higher at RM2.27 billion.

Data centre connectivity provided another source of business. In a November 10 research note, Kenanga Investment Bank put the order book for Maxis's trunk fibre and data centre fabric operations at RM1.3 billion. Its network links 55 data centres, with contract durations of three to 15 years and revenue booked as projects are delivered.

The prepaid business shed 425,000 subscribers after the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission introduced stricter SIM registration requirements in late August. Quarterly prepaid revenue nevertheless slipped only 0.2% to RM611 million, while average revenue per user rose to RM36.30 from RM35.60.

Kenanga linked that increase to existing customers taking up personalised offers and monthly internet passes. It warned that prepaid subscriber numbers could fluctuate further in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, Maxis gained 31,000 postpaid customers, taking that subscriber base to 4.27 million; postpaid revenue increased 2.8% year-on-year to RM979 million.

Nine-month core net profit increased 11.2% to RM1.33 billion. Kenanga said earnings beat expectations partly because operating and maintenance expenses were lower than anticipated, including one-off adjustments to earlier cost accruals.

According to Kenanga, Maxis lowered its FY2026 capital expenditure guidance to approximately 10% of revenue, against an earlier range of 10%-12%. The company generated RM884 million in quarterly operating free cash flow and announced an interim dividend of 4.5 sen per share, taking the nine-month payout to 12.5 sen.