Visit any Verizon store for free devices, discounts, and digital wellness tools NEW YORK, Aug. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As families prepare for the new school year, Verizon is launching a month of unmatched value and digital wellness support, kicking off with Verizon Family Weekend on August 9-10. During this weekend, Verizon stores nationwide will transform into back-to-school hubs, offering expert advice, hands-on product demonstrations, and tailored technology solutions for parents, students and teac ...

Group 1 - As of the end of June, the total number of mobile phone users in Fujian Province reached 50.916 million, representing a year-on-year growth of 1.7% [1] - The number of 5G mobile phone users reached 31.485 million, showing a year-on-year increase of 20.3%, with 5G users accounting for 61.8% of total mobile users and 5G mobile internet access traffic making up 67.4% [1] - The number of mobile phone base stations in the province reached 480,000, with 152,000 being 5G base stations, indicating a robust infrastructure for mobile connectivity [1] Group 2 - The total number of fixed internet broadband access users in Fujian Province reached 22.878 million, with a year-on-year growth of 1.1% [1] - The number of 10G-PON ports capable of providing gigabit network services increased by 110,000 compared to the end of the previous year, reaching a total of 948,000 [1] - The rapid growth of gigabit broadband users supports the increasing demand for high-bandwidth applications such as remote work, high-definition video, and online gaming [1]

Group 1 - AT&T will host a webcast featuring Jeremy Legg, the chief technology officer, at the KeyBanc Technology Leadership Forum on August 11, 2025, starting at 11 a.m. ET [2][4] - The webcast will be available live and for replay on the AT&T Investor Relations website, encouraging viewers to join a few minutes early [3][4] - AT&T serves over 100 million U.S. customers and nearly 2.5 million businesses, providing services from traditional phone calls to advanced 5G wireless and multi-gig internet offerings [4]

Group 1 - A sudden network outage occurred in Luxembourg on July 23, 2025, affecting mobile networks, internet connections, fixed-line phones, and emergency alert systems [1][3] - The incident was initially classified as a "technical failure" but was later determined to be a "complex and targeted" cyber attack, revealing vulnerabilities in Luxembourg's digital infrastructure [3][8] - The outage began around 16:15 local time, originating from issues within POST Luxembourg's network systems [5] Group 2 - The outage impacted various services, including 4G/5G mobile communication, fixed and mobile phone services, emergency call services (112/113), electronic banking, government alert systems (LU-Alert), and all internet services for private and corporate clients [6] - The disruption lasted for several hours, causing significant chaos in social life and public safety, prompting the Luxembourg government to activate a national crisis response mechanism [7] - Initial investigations suggested that a new system configuration operation caused the 5G core network failure, which led to a cascading failure across multiple services [7] Group 3 - Following the restoration of services, the national cybersecurity agency and POST Luxembourg reported that the incident was a highly complex and unprecedented cyber attack aimed at disrupting national communication rather than data theft [8] - Investigators believe the attackers exploited vulnerabilities in standardized software used by POST Luxembourg to connect communication nodes, rather than directly attacking the hardware [10] - The national cybersecurity center has requested all government, banking, telecom, and energy companies using specific HW routers to report their system status and assist in security scans [11]

Group 1 - Verizon Communications Inc. was upgraded to a buy rating in June due to mixed fundamentals but fair valuation [1] - The core reason for the bullish call on Verizon was based on its valuation metrics [1] Group 2 - The article emphasizes the importance of excellence, integrity, transparency, and respect as core values for long-term success in investment [1]

Core Insights - Telefonica, S.A. reported a significant decline in net income for Q2 2025, with a net income of €155 million, down 67% year-over-year, and basic earnings per share (EPS) of €0.02, matching the consensus estimate [1][11] - Quarterly revenues decreased by 3.7% year-over-year to €8.95 billion ($10.2 billion), falling short of consensus estimates by 8.83%, but showing an organic growth of 1.5% in core markets [2][11] - The company is strategically reducing its exposure to lower-margin Latin American operations, having completed divestitures in Argentina and Peru, and is progressing with deals in Uruguay, Ecuador, and Colombia [3] Financial Performance - Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was €2.9 billion, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 1.2%, while operating income decreased by 6.7% to €1.03 billion [12] - Cash flow from operating activities for the first half of the year was €4.5 billion, slightly down from €4.6 billion in the previous year, with free cash flow of €505 million for the quarter [13] Business Unit Performance - Telefonica Espana saw a revenue increase of 1.9% year-over-year to €3.2 billion, supported by strong customer additions and price increases [4] - Telefonica Deutschland's revenue decreased by 2.4% to €2 billion, with a quarterly adjusted EBITDA margin of 31.3% [5] - VirginMedia-O2 U.K. reported a revenue decline of 5.5% to €3 billion, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 38.2% [6] - Telefonica Brasil's revenues increased by 7.1% to €2.3 billion, driven by strong contract and FTTH revenue growth [7] - Telefonica Hispam's revenues fell by 2.9% to €1.04 billion, primarily due to weaker results in Colombia [10] Strategic Outlook - For 2025, Telefonica expects year-on-year organic growth in revenues, EBITDA, and EBITDAaL - CapEx, aiming to keep CapEx below 12.5% of sales and maintain free cash flow at 2024 levels [14] - The company reaffirmed its commitment to shareholder returns with a confirmed dividend of €0.30 per share for 2025 [14]

Core Insights - TELUS Corporation reported a total customer growth of 198,000 in the second quarter of 2025, driven by strong demand for bundled services and expansion of TELUS PureFibre connectivity [1][3] - The company achieved operating revenue growth of 2% to $5.1 billion and adjusted EBITDA growth of 4%, indicating a robust diversified business portfolio [2][12] - TELUS Health segment saw significant growth, with operating revenue and adjusted EBITDA increasing by 16% and 29% respectively, covering 157 million lives globally [3][8] Financial Performance - Consolidated free cash flow increased by 11% to $535 million, reflecting improved operational efficiency [1][9] - Operating revenues from TTech, including TELUS Health, rose by 2% while adjusted EBITDA grew by 4%, aligning with the company's financial targets for 2025 [2][6] - The company recognized a net loss of $245 million due to a $500 million impairment of goodwill related to TELUS Digital, but adjusted net income was $342 million, down 7% year-over-year [5][12] Customer Growth and Segments - TELUS added 198,000 net customers, with mobile phone and connected device additions contributing significantly [3][7] - The total TTech subscriber base reached 20.5 million, a 5% increase year-over-year, with notable growth in mobile phones and connected devices [7][12] - TELUS Health's healthcare lives covered increased by 82 million over the past year, primarily due to the acquisition of Workplace Options [8][24] Capital Expenditures and Investments - Consolidated capital expenditures were $678 million, a decrease of 2% from the previous year, with a focus on TTech operations and TELUS Health expansions [10][12] - The company announced a definitive agreement with La Caisse to acquire a 49.9% interest in a new wireless tower operator for $1.26 billion, aimed at monetizing its tower infrastructure [2][4] Strategic Outlook - TELUS reaffirmed its 2025 financial targets, including operating revenue growth of 2-4% and adjusted EBITDA growth of 3-5% [1][2] - The company aims to achieve a net debt to EBITDA ratio of 3 times by 2027, supported by ongoing asset monetization initiatives [4][6] - TELUS continues to focus on customer expansion, product innovation, and service enhancement to drive long-term value creation [4][6]

Financial Performance and Key Metrics - PCCW reported a revenue increase of 7% to over US$2.4 billion and EBITDA growth of 6% to US$771 million [3] - HKT achieved a 4% revenue growth and a 3% increase in EBITDA, with adjusted fund flow also rising by 3% [3][11] - The overall EBITDA margin for HKT remained stable at 37% [11] - The net debt to EBITDA ratio improved to 4.17x compared to 4.2x a year ago [16] Business Line Performance - The OTT regional service recorded a 10% revenue growth and a 51% improvement in EBITDA [3][12] - View TV's revenue retreated in the first half due to event timing, but margins remained stable, with expectations for a rebound in the second half [3][4] - The talent management business saw increased international exposure for artists, contributing to overall performance [8][9] Market Performance - The OTT business maintained its leading position among Asian players, with a 19% year-on-year growth in paid subscribers [5][12] - Advertising revenue remained stable despite a soft consumer spending environment in Hong Kong [8][13] - The Free TV business revenue decreased to US$44 million from US$62 million last year due to fewer concerts and events [12][13] Company Strategy and Industry Competition - PCCW is focused on leveraging digital infrastructure and AI to enhance customer service and drive digital transformation for enterprises [3] - The company aims to optimize resource allocation and enhance viewer experience through a diversified content portfolio and expanded partnerships [5][6] - The strategy includes balancing Korean, Chinese, and local content to maximize returns [7] Management Commentary on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged a challenging macro environment but emphasized a commitment to delivering high-quality services and profitable growth [2] - There are strong expectations for content performance in the second half, particularly with popular shows and concerts scheduled [7][9] - The company is optimistic about achieving positive cash flow in the OTT business in the coming months [6][12] Other Important Information - An interim dividend of HKD9.77 per share was declared, reflecting a prudent dividend policy [4] - The company reported a decrease in operating expenses by 5% to US$376 million, improving the ratio from 17.4% to 15.5% [13] - Capital expenditures fell by 3% to US$142 million, with a focus on efficiency [14] Q&A Session Summary - No specific questions or answers were documented in the provided content, indicating the end of the analyst briefing [17]

Core Viewpoint - The three major telecommunications companies in China have collectively announced standardized measures for telephone marketing to address issues of false advertising and consumer inducement in marketing calls [1][2]. Group 1: Standardized Marketing Measures - The official outbound marketing numbers for the three telecommunications companies are: China Telecom 10001, China Mobile 10085, and China Unicom 10016. Any calls from other numbers should be considered unofficial [1]. - If a user explicitly refuses a marketing offer, the companies are prohibited from making further calls to that user. Marketing calls must provide comprehensive and accurate information without false advertising or hidden fees [1]. - All marketing proposals must be publicly available on the companies' online service platforms and official apps [1]. Group 2: Compliance and Transparency - Outbound marketing calls will be recorded and undergo full review to ensure compliance with strict quality standards, promoting transparency and integrity [1]. - After obtaining user consent, staff must send a confirmation SMS detailing essential information about the service. The service will only be processed after the user confirms via SMS [1]. - Upon successful processing of the service, a notification SMS will be sent to the user promptly [1].

Core Insights - Lumen reported revenue of $3.09 billion for the quarter ended June 2025, a decrease of 5.4% year-over-year, with an EPS of -$0.03, an improvement from -$0.13 in the same quarter last year [1] - The revenue fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.13 billion by 1.06%, while the EPS exceeded the consensus estimate of -$0.24 by 87.5% [1] Financial Performance - Total Business Segment Revenue was $2.49 billion, slightly above the average estimate of $2.48 billion, but down 3.4% year-over-year [4] - Total Mass Markets Revenue was reported at $602 million, below the estimated $649.47 million, reflecting a decline of 12.9% year-over-year [4] - Wholesale Business Segment Revenue was $690 million, slightly above the estimate of $685.96 million, down 4.6% year-over-year [4] - Large Enterprise Revenue totaled $732 million, exceeding the average estimate of $713.65 million, but down 12.5% year-over-year [4] - International and Other Revenue was $82 million, slightly below the estimate of $85.85 million [4] - Public Sector Revenue was $486 million, surpassing the estimate of $475.71 million, with an increase of 8.5% year-over-year [4] - Fiber Broadband-Mass Markets Segment Revenue was $217 million, slightly above the estimate of $216.54 million, showing a growth of 19.9% year-over-year [4] - Other Broadband-Mass Markets Segment Revenue was $245 million, exceeding the estimate of $241.35 million, but down 17.8% year-over-year [4] - Voice and Other-Mass Markets Segment Revenue was $140 million, significantly below the estimate of $191.08 million, reflecting a decline of 34% year-over-year [4] - Mid-Market Enterprise Revenue was $500 million, below the average estimate of $514 million, but up 4.6% year-over-year [4] Stock Performance - Lumen's shares have returned +0.2% over the past month, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2.7% change [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating potential performance in line with the broader market in the near term [3]