Q2 2026 Bezeq Israeli Telecommunication Corp Ltd Earnings Call
Speaker #1: Welcome, everyone, and thank you for joining us on Bezeq's second quarter, earnings call. I'm Yohai Benita, CFO of the Bezeq Group, joining me today are Mr. Tomer Raved, Bezeq's Executive Chairman, Mr. Nir David, CEO of Bezeq Fixed Line, and Mr. Ilan Sigal, CEO of Telephone & Yes.
Speaker #1: Before we begin, please review the Safe Harbor statement on slide 2 of our presentation. Which applies to any statement made during today's call. Following our prepared remarks, we will open the call for Q&A.
Speaker #1: With that said, let me now turn the call over to Tomer for his opening remarks. After his introduction, I will continue the presentation of our group's financial highlights followed by Nir, who will discuss the Bezeq Fixed Line results and Ilan, who will cover the results from Telephone & Yes.
Speaker #1: I will conclude the presentation with Bezeq International results. Tomer.
Speaker #2: Thank you, Yohai. I'm glad to see all of you joining us today. The strong results achieved in the second quarter demonstrate the commercial and operational momentum across the group.
Speaker #2: Which reflects consistent growth across all financial metrics. As well, as the expansion of our customer base across all business segments, from subscribers joining Bezeq's fiber networks to the growth in Telephone's 5G subscribers and a higher number of subscribers and profitability at Yes.
Speaker #2: The critical importance of a digital infrastructure during this period has reinforced all our core engines. We anticipate a continued expansion, both through acquisitions and growth-supportive investments, in the international infrastructure and cable sector.
Speaker #2: The recent quarters further underscore the success of our strategic compass, led by the management teams in all the segments. And the continued unprecedented growth in the group's profitability metrics.
Speaker #2: Looking ahead, in addition to organic growth, we are actively exploring investments including merger and acquisitions opportunities to support the group's strategy that will allow us to create tech and synergies and strengthen our competitive advantage in the market.
Speaker #2: Similarly, we are working vigorously to establish Israel's position as a global digital hub by building the submarine cable project. This national project will ensure redundancy and communication security.
Speaker #2: It will connect us to the global data routes, and serve as a strategic growth engine for the country in the years to come. We continue to work intensively with MOC teams in order to remove structural separation and fully merge our TV business into our broadband services and infrastructure division.
Speaker #2: Let's now move to slide 3. Where we show Q2 highlights, core revenues grew 4% to over 2 billion shekels, and comp net profit grew by 38%, driven by higher revenues and lower financing and operating expenses.
Speaker #2: After adjusting for the change in Yes valuation in Q2 2025. The board of directors recommended a dividend distribution of 415 million shekels, representing 80% of 2026 first half profits.
Speaker #2: In addition, the company will launch a new buyback plan of 100 million shekels which is part of our multi-year program of 800 million shekels, and follows the completion of our previous buyback plan of 150 million shekels.
Speaker #2: Fiber subscribers were up 17%, and take-up reached 35%, with over 3 million home packs. 5G continued to drive solar market performance, and subscriber plans were up 12% year over year.
Speaker #2: Our pool increased the cross-broadband and TV. Telephone signed an MOU to acquire Wecom, and we continue to develop and grow our digital infrastructure activities with an emphasis on the international submarine cable project.
Speaker #2: We hope to have more on these opportunities later this year. On slide 4, we see the tech and business roadmap. It's on track to deliver our 2029 KPIs.
Speaker #2: From increased fiber deployment 5G, and growth in the TV and fiber bundle. We are building for durable growth, superior customer experience, and operating efficiency.
Speaker #2: On slide 5, we summarize our key Q2 financial achievements, including a 6.2 increase in comp EBITDA to 978 million shekels. Finally, on slide 6, we highlight our key KPIs for each of our businesses, broadband retail output continued to grow year over year to 142 shekels, we recorded an increase in Yes output due to fiber growth and revenues from the partner transaction.
Speaker #2: Telephone Group 5G subscribers planned to 1.49 million, and 5G Max subscribers grew to 217,000 today. We are on track to reach our target of 300,000 5G Max subscribers by year end.
Speaker #2: I will now hand the call back to Yohai, who will review our financial bits in more details.
Speaker #1: Thank you, Tomer. Let's turn to slide 7 for the group's second quarter highlights. Core revenues comp EBITDA and comp net profit showed strong growth this quarter, across all group segments.
Speaker #1: Core revenue showed 4% growth, and comp net profit grew 38% due to higher revenues and low financing and operating expenses after adjusting for the change in Yes valuation in the second quarter of 2025.
Speaker #1: Moving to slide 8, we show our results for the first half of 2026. Comp net profit grew 19%, mainly due to lower financing expenses and free cash flow grew 24% due to tax payments and refunds, along with changes in working capital.
Speaker #1: Turning to slide 9, we show our Q2 operating expenses. Operating and depreciation expenses were impacted by changes in Yes valuation in the second quarter of 2025.
Speaker #1: After excluding the impact of the changes in valuations, operating expenses decreased approximately 35 million shekels and depreciation expenses increased approximately 15 million shekels. Slide 10 shows our quarterly operational metrics.
Speaker #1: We recorded growth in Telephone subscribers and wholesale broadband subscribers and achieved higher outputs for retail broadband and Yes. Bezeq Group retail broadband subscribers increased by 1%, with growth in Yes fiber bundle subscribers offsetting a decline in fixed line retail broadband subscribers in the second quarter.
Speaker #1: Slide 11 highlights our balanced capital structure. Net debt increased slightly, by 303 million shekels to 5.2 billion shekels, with a net debt-to-comp EBITDA ratio at 1.6 times.
Speaker #1: Turning to shareholder remuneration on slide 12. As Tomer mentioned earlier, the board of directors recommended a cash dividend distribution of 415 million shekels, and we launched a new buyback plan of 100 million shekels, which is part of our multi-year program of 800 million shekels.
Speaker #1: On slides 13 through 15, we show our 2026 outlook and 2029 targets, which are unchanged, we will continue to focus on maintaining our AA level rating and strive to increase shareholder remuneration.
Speaker #1: I will now hand the call to Nir for fixed line results.
Speaker #3: Thank you, Yohai. Our strong second quarter result demonstrates our strength and availability to continue recording consistent growth across all core metrics, driven by the company's strategy plan.
Speaker #3: We will continue to implement our strategy: invest in advanced infrastructures and future growth agents, leading in innovation in provide our customers with the most advanced and high set quality solutions.
Speaker #3: Turning to slide 16. Fixed line core revenue increased 1.9% to 999 million shekels, driven by higher revenues from transmission and data communications. Cloud and digital services and infrastructure projects: fiber deployment continued as we reach over 3 million home packs with a take-up rate of 35%.
Speaker #3: Following in the following slide, we show Q2 financial highlights. Comp EBITDA rose 6.1%, and comp net profit grew 20%, driven by higher revenues and lower operating and financing expenses.
Speaker #3: Capex was down by 10%, and free cash flow in the first half of 2026 was 624 million shekels, compared to 150 million shekels in the corresponding period.
Speaker #3: Turning to the next slide, we show continued fiber deployment reaching approximately 3.04 million home packs. With almost 1.1 million active subscribers in our fiber networks today, they represent 73% of total broadband subscribers, and a take-up rate of 35%.
Speaker #3: Retail broadband output continued to grow and rose 4.4% year over year to 142 shekels. Moving to slide 19, we show the take-up trend. Retail fiber take-up reached 655,000 and wholesale fiber take-ups reached 406,000.
Speaker #3: Turning to slide 20. Broadband revenue were down 1.2% due to the Ministry of Communication decrease in wholesale tariffs. Transmission and data revenue grew 2.6% to 317 million shekels due to higher revenues from metro, transmission services, and digital and cloud revenues.
Speaker #3: Increased 3.3%, driven by higher revenues from virtual exchanges and cloud services. Other revenue rose 19% due to higher revenues from infrastructure projects. Moving to slide 21, we show our operating expenses.
Speaker #3: As fiber deployment and penetration has grown, we are seeing the result in lower operating expenses which decreased by 18% due to lower expenses of fiber installation and materials.
Speaker #3: With that, I will now turn the call over to Ilan to discuss Telephone and Yes.
Speaker #1: Thank you, Nir. The quarterly results reflect the successful implementation of our strategic initiatives in recent years, as Telephone and Yes. The company's demonstrate continued growth, improved profitability, and a strengthening of their competitive positioning, while consistently investing in infrastructure innovation and customer experience.
Speaker #1: On slide 22, we show revenues comp EBITDA and comp net profit all of which increased despite the impact of the war with Iran on roaming revenues.
Speaker #1: We delivered strong subscriber momentum this quarter. Post-pay subscribers increased by 21,000, 5G post-pay subscribers grew by 48,000, reaching approximately 1.5 million. Or 63% of post-pay subscribers today.
Speaker #1: In parallel, 5G max subscriber plans continue to expand reaching 220,000 today, reflecting customers' increasing demand for premium connectivity. We signed an MOU to acquire Wecom and we are currently working to finalize the agreement soon.
Speaker #1: As expected, given the war-related roaming impact, output declined modestly year over year to 45 shekels, a decrease of 2.2% or 1 shekel. Turning to slide 23, you can see the detailed financial performance this quarter, which reflects this dynamics.
Speaker #1: Comp EBITDA grew 2.2% and comp net profit grew 6.3% despite the impact of the war on roaming revenues. Free cash flow was impacted by changes in the working capital mainly from payments to employees due to signing of a new collective and the timing of end-user equipment orders.
Speaker #1: On slide 24, we highlight continued growth in 5G adoption. With 63% of post-pay customers, now on 5G plans, we remain well positioned to capture future data and service revenue upside.
Speaker #1: On slide 25, we show revenues from services and output. Revenues from services were up almost 1% despite the impact of the war with Iran on roaming revenues.
Speaker #1: Moving to Yes. On slide 26, we see Yes delivered a strong quarter with revenues growing 8.7% to 348 million shekels, for the highest quarterly revenues since Q4 2018.
Speaker #1: Output reached a record of 204 shekels driven by continued growth in the TV plus fiber bundle and revenues from the partner transaction. Slide 27 highlights our key financial metrics in Q2.
Speaker #1: We recorded the highest comp EBITDA and the comp net profit since Q2 2023, driven by high revenues and low expenses this is the second consecutive quarter of comp net profit and the first full quarter to reflect the full impact of the immigration from satellite broadcasting.
Speaker #1: Moving to slide 28, fiber subscribers increased to 150,000 today, while migration to IP continues with 90% of Yes customers now on IP platforms. With that, I will hand the call back to Yochai for Bezeq International's results.
Speaker #2: Thank you, Ilan. Finally, turning to Bezeq International on slide 29. Bezeq International delivered a solid performance in the second quarter with revenues from business customers increasing 9% year over year to 252 million shekels driven primarily by high equipment sales and continued growth in cloud activities.
Speaker #2: Comp EBITDA grew 5.4% and comp net profit totaled 11 million shekels compared to 3 million shekels in the corresponding quarter last year. Mainly due to higher revenues Bezeq International is well positioned as demand for cloud data and enterprise connectivity solution continues to grow.
Speaker #2: With that, I will open the Q&A session. If you would like to ask a question, please raise your hand virtually. As you hear your name, please be sure to unmute your microphone and ask your question.
Speaker #2: For the benefit of the people in the room, please introduce yourself and share the name of the company you represent. We will address questions as we see the hand raised.
Speaker #2: I will now pause to poll for questions. First question from David Kaplan from PSAGOT.
Speaker #3: Hello, I guess I don't have to say my name. You did that for me. So I have a couple of questions and I'll try and keep it as short as possible.
Speaker #3: When I look at the first question I'm going to have is on KPIs around the fixed line. I think when you look at the group fiber overall, when I combine the fibre subscribers and the fixed line business and the television business, we see some nice growth, 18% year over year, and a little bit over 3% in the quarter.
Speaker #3: How do you think about that? I mean, first of all, I think it speaks to why it's clear that the removal of structural separation would be a massive boon for Bezeq.
Speaker #3: And if you give us an update where we are on the regulatory front on those things, that would be appreciated. But secondly, how do you think about that strategically when it comes to what appears to be some form of cannibalization of the fixed line business and their fiber subscribers from Yes, from the TV subsidiaries?
Speaker #3: While on the one hand, we see output in both of those companies growing where fiber is involved, I imagine the pricing is not exactly the same.
Speaker #3: So that's the first question.
Speaker #4: So I'll just take that. First, you're analysis is correct. Overall, we look at the group total fibre sub, retail subs. When you look at Bezeq fixed line and Yes combined, and you see growth consecutively, the economics are the same or even better when you think about TV bundling because the wholesale rates that Yes is paying to Bezeq is awash from a group perspective, right?
Speaker #4: So there's no cannibalization de facto. You get both from both type of subs, right, fiber revenue, and you have incremental TV revenue when you look at Yes.
Speaker #4: So yes, removal of structural separation makes a lot of sense. And also bring value to the company and to the consumer who pays lower for the bundle but obviously incremental revenue and incremental subs for the group.
Speaker #4: So that exactly how we think about it. And that's why you see first the take up growing, fiber sub growing, and also total broadband subs when you add fiber and copper remain stable even when you see the retail sub that Bezeq fixed line alone going down.
Speaker #1: Right, sorry. And anything to say on the regulatory front? Any updates there or nothing currently?
Speaker #4: On the regulatory front, we are in professional dialogue with the Minister of Communication and the teams that are working with them from the Minister of Finance and antitrust authorities.
Speaker #4: The process is closed to completion and we hope they will announce in the coming weeks. We obviously cannot ignore from the impact on timing from the geopolitical and political backdrop, but we believe there will be a resolution in the coming weeks.
Speaker #3: Okay, then just one quick question on the KPIs and the mobile business. Output doesn't seem to be tracking upwards as you are very successfully migrating 4G subs to 5G.
Speaker #3: So I'm curious, does that have to do with subsidies or are there is there something else going on in there when why don't we see the impact of the migration on output?
Speaker #4: Yeah, the output is pretty stable. Obviously, you have some impact from roaming and a lot of transition in the kind of one-off in the business sector, especially government customers that have been migrating this year with the large option that came out tender.
Speaker #4: Besides that, there are no other trends or element. Obviously, there's competition in the market, but the upgrade from 4G to 5G continues to drive output upwards.
Speaker #4: And we stand behind our kind of 50 shekels 2029 targets.
Speaker #1: I'll add. I'll add.
Speaker #3: Great. Yes, sir.
Speaker #1: Every year the past three years you see output growing around one shekel a year, but this year because of the impact of the war on roaming, it's slightly went down where one shekel only this quarter.
Speaker #1: Now we see that the roaming is coming back because Israelis are flying and travel and we believe that the roaming revenues will go back the same place they were.
Speaker #1: Two quarters ago.
Speaker #3: Okay, great. And my last one really quick, just on the balance sheet. Net debt seemed to have picked up this quarter. I'm sure it has something to do with the dividend that is being paid and with the buybacks.
Speaker #3: How do you view that going forward? Because I think you did have goals for to continue on the deleveraging track.
Speaker #4: We do not have goals on the deleveraging track. That's very important. We like where we are from a leverage perspective. And I think we discussed thoroughly on our letter of investment and the pyramid that discussed how we think about capital allocation.
Speaker #4: So first, maintenance capex is important. Secondly, we maintain our current leverage level. We are not we don't have any intention to delever further. We like where we are, the 1.5, 1.6 net debt to EBITDA, AA rating.
Speaker #4: We have a lot of financial flexibility. And as a result, we are looking at A, additional M&A and investment opportunities including subsea cables and WECOM, and B, increasing return to shareholders via dividends and incremental buybacks.
Speaker #3: Okay, great. Thanks very much. I apologize to my colleagues and I'll let them get on the line now.
Speaker #1: Thank you. Next question we have is from Rohit from Citi.
Speaker #5: Thank you for taking my questions. I have three, please. Firstly, on the guidance and looking at the comp EBITDA guidance of 3.7 to 3.8, billion, I mean, and I'll look into performance in one edge.
Speaker #5: You're already doing 3.7% comp EBITDA growth in one edge. Now that leaves a lot of headroom into it. I mean, even with the decline on comp EBITDA into it, you still achieved top end of your guidance.
Speaker #5: I'm just trying to understand why if I so cautious about two edge, are you seeing any kind of pressure in the second half? Second question is on the fixed line operating expenses.
Speaker #5: 18% decline there. Is that the kind of run rate do you expect now in terms of operating expenses going forward in fixed line? Or does the phasing and probably you see a bit more increase there?
Speaker #5: And last question is basically the follow up on the roaming charges. If you can give us any kind of color in terms of what your mobile service revenue growth would have been if you assume your roaming revenue was flat in this quarter.
Speaker #5: Thank you.
Speaker #4: No, I'll start. You guys can continue first. We so the first question was around.
Speaker #1: The guidance.
Speaker #4: The guidance, yeah. So look, we do not expect any softness in H2. You're right that we have a lot of headroom and we feel very strong with our guidance.
Speaker #4: We will update the market if we and as per our disclaimer, if we see deviation of more than 10% from the mid-range. And we feel very comfortable with the range and if there are any updates, upward, we'll definitely update the market.
Speaker #4: We feel very confident with the trends and the tailwinds in Q2 and also going into Q3. Especially if the geopolitical situation stays stable with the roaming question, we feel very comfortable with the guidance that we gave.
Speaker #4: And also with the long-term one. On opex.
Speaker #1: On opex on Bezeq fixed line, I can say that part of the reasons for the decrease in the expenses relates to the lower cost related to the fiber activity.
Speaker #1: We see less expenses in this area. On the other hand, I need to say that we also have the interconnection fees that we used to have in the past.
Speaker #1: Now we don't have. So it's something that ended last year also part of the reason for the decrease quarter over quarters. And also part of it is a decrease in Bezeq store activity, which we managed to compensate in other revenues that we managed to stream this quarter.
Speaker #1: So you don't see a decrease in revenue, of course. We see a strong growth in Bezeq fixed line revenue and still the expenses went down.
Speaker #1: So part of it will continue for sure. The.
Speaker #2: There's a third question.
Speaker #1: The third question was regarding the output and warming. Okay. About the roaming, we see that July the Israeli passengers already coming back and it seems like July 26 looks like July 23, something very similar.
Speaker #1: So if the war will not continue and it will be stable, I believe that roaming revenues will come back and be better and maybe like 23 before the war.
Speaker #1: So probably it will impact on the output.
Speaker #3: Okay.
Speaker #1: Thank you. Next question is from UBS. André. Can you hear me?
Speaker #6: Hi everyone. Yes, I can hear. Can you hear me?
Speaker #1: Yeah, now I can hear.
Speaker #6: Good. Thank you. Thanks for the presentation. So I've got two follow-ups effectively on one question. So I guess the first one I apologize I didn't quite hear, but in terms of the structural separation, there are elections planned, of course, and so I was wondering more is there a risk that this gets kind of put on hold, it becomes less of a priority or if there's a different outcome in terms of say who governs Israel going forward, is there a risk that this or one of the three scenarios that the regulators has kind of studied would be the priority as opposed to the kind of just plain removal?
Speaker #6: So that would be number one. Number two, a follow-up on the fixed line opex. If you could maybe explain a bit more like the disassociation of the trend of the opex base compared to the fact that you are still rolling out fiber quite heavily.
Speaker #6: So there was a big drop in the subcontractor and kind of hardware as well as marketing expenses. Which seems to be running well ahead of what the actual number of homes connected is doing.
Speaker #6: So why is there kind of a break between those two currently? And the third question would please be just your view on the I guess missed opportunities who can support the mobile market where hot was sold to strategic buyers.
Speaker #6: So is there any kind of implications of that on the mobile market from your perspective?
Speaker #4: So on structural ural separation, the process is not unrelated to elections and it's not a government decision or a parliament connected decision. It sits within an interministry team between Minister of Finance, Minister of Communication and enter trust authority.
Speaker #4: And they are close to completing their work. Obviously, the environment creates delays. Elections should not impact not the decision-making process and not the essence and the resolution itself.
Speaker #4: So the answer is we do not expect that to impact potentially timing a little bit, but not the actual decision. That's on number one.
Speaker #4: On opex, you want to touch while just.
Speaker #1: Yeah, I would just add to that. I think you mentioned that in the question is true. There are more home passed in Israel, which are now connected to the fiber networks.
Speaker #1: And when we come to connect new customers, so we need to invest less in order to connect the same customer we used to we had to invest in the past.
Speaker #1: So this is one of the reasons why we see decrease in Bezeq fixed line operational expenses. I hope that answer your question. And the third question was regarding the.
Speaker #5: Mobile market.
Speaker #4: Just generally and Guy, feel free to add. But we are all four consolidation, same as you see and cover your the European companies you cover.
Speaker #4: We think the same trend is justified in Israel. Hot mobile is not really consolidation, but I think more rational ownership. Obviously, support the market.
Speaker #4: Our acquisition of Wecom, we'll also support consolidation and further investment in the network. And we expect and vouch for additional consolidation in Israel mobile market.
Speaker #1: Okay. Thank you. Thank you. And next question is from Sabina from Lida. Hi Sabina.
Speaker #7: Hi guys. Good afternoon. I have a few questions. Can you I saw a really nice revenue growth in yes. So I understand that part of it is coming from the fiber optic subscribers, but I was wondering if you can elaborate on the contribution of the partner in yes collaboration or agreement.
Speaker #7: Are we started to seeing it in the results? How significant it is? And what should I assume going forward? And the second question, we saw like really nice growth both in Ben Lumi and fixed line segment with a business customers.
Speaker #7: So if you can give us more color regarding the trends there and maybe some updates regarding the sub.
Speaker #1: Okay. I'll start with the partner deal. First of all, we're very happy with the partner deal. It started on Q4 2025. And there's two consecutive quarters that the collaboration is working.
Speaker #1: And it's almost nine years deal. And it's a very good deal for yes. And it's collaborating for our revenues. And it will continue the next quarters.
Speaker #1: The revenues that you see is fiber, as you said, and also the collaborations with partner and also with the international companies like Netflix, Disney now, HBO Max.
Speaker #1: There are now on yes billing.
Speaker #5: I think on Bezeq International and business sector mostly and Nir is really spearheading that. We see trends between the need for additional bandwidth, broadened connectivity, the need for AI and of course cyber needs all comes together and that's the value add services that Bezeq fixed line and Bezeq International brings to the business customers.
Speaker #5: And I think the trend will continue. It's also further cloud need and hosting needs. And our operation within data center activity mostly on co-location definitely something we will see a further boost given the obvious.
Speaker #5: Trend that you see in all the business industry. On subsea cable, which really complement what I just talked about, it doesn't only speak to the needs in Israel and to the trends.
Speaker #5: Around tech and AI and data centers, it's also speak to the need in the region. Because today we already connect east to west, meaning the Gulf and India all the way all the way through Israel on the terrestrial route.
Speaker #5: And then through our subsea cable to Europe. We see the demand there is growing exponentially. And that's why we discussed train new cable systems on the way we provide detailed on one.
Speaker #5: And we are progressing very rapidly also on the second one which we published RFQ for. You will see a lot of activity. And pretty interesting returns on our eye on this investment in the coming months.
Speaker #7: But is it something that's included in your 2029 goals or it could be potential upside?
Speaker #5: Excellent.
Speaker #4: Nothing related to subsea cable forecast or nor structural separation nor M&As. Are included in the 2029 forecast. As of today.
Speaker #7: Okay. Thank you. And maybe one more question for Ilan. So you've mentioned the rebound in roaming in a strong July. But I was wondering so on one hand, we see the improvement in roaming, but on the other hand, should we see some impact of the latest tender of the Israeli accountant general on telephones results?
Speaker #1: We still don't see it. We probably will see it in the next few quarters. Not now.
Speaker #7: So would it like I'm just trying to understand. So what are the trends for the third and the fourth quarter for the ARPU perspective and the subscribers growth for telephone?
Speaker #1: Has called the tender is not very impacted the ARPU. The ARPU is affected by the 5G subscriber, the moving from 4G to 5G. And of course, from our all customers that we are gaining every quarter.
Speaker #1: And the roaming. So if you talk about the tender, it's we also we have 60% of the customer of the government. And it will impact, but mostly not will impact the ARPU badly in the next quarters.
Speaker #7: Okay. Thank you.
Speaker #1: Okay. Thank you, Sabina. If there are no further questions at this time, I would like to thank you all for taking the time to join us today.
Speaker #1: Should you have any follow-up questions, please feel free to contact our investors relations department. We look forward to speaking to you on the third quarter 2026 earnings call.
