Strong headline earnings and cash growth
Reported EBITDAaL up 4.9% to $4.2bn; underlying EBITDAaL up 5.5% to $4.2bn. EBIT up 9.2% to ~$2.0bn. Profit for the period (NPAT / profit to shareholders) up ~8–9% (~$1.1–1.2bn). Underlying/cash metrics: cash EBIT up 14% to $2.5bn and cash EPS up 20% to $0.14. Underlying ROIC improved +0.9pp to 8.9%.
Strong capital return to shareholders
Interim dividend increased to $0.105 per share (up ~10.5% on a cash basis) with 90.5% franking (A$0.095 franked + A$0.01 unfranked). On‑market buyback increased from up to $1.0bn to up to $1.25bn; $637m completed in H1 at an average price of $4.90 and ~2.6% of shares retired in calendar 2025. Net debt stable at ~1.9x and average cost of debt reduced to 4.8%.
Mobile business momentum
Mobile service revenue growth +5.6%. Mobile EBITDA rose by ~$93m (≈4%) to $2.7bn. Handheld mobile base increased by ~135,000 in the half. ARPU gains across segments: postpaid handheld +4.8%, prepaid handheld +14.7% (noting caveats on per‑user basis), wholesale ARPU +7%.
Progress in infrastructure and Aura (Intercity Fibre)
Aura build halfway: ~7,000km of fiber laid (of ~14,000km). InfraCo fixed EBITDAaL +3.4% to $905m; Amplitel EBITDAaL +6.6% to $162m. Aura expected mid‑teens IRR and strong revenue growth from FY'28 as routes come online; project spend estimated ~$1.6bn above BAU CapEx (majority by end FY'27). Targeted +1 point uplift in network experience index.
Digitalisation and AI driving efficiency and customer outcomes
Software partners consolidated from ~400 to 2; software development efficiency improved >20% and release cycles sped 15–20%. >99.9% of 7.7m consumer customers migrated to new digital stack (~4,000 complex customers remain). 86% of consumer service interactions now digital self‑service. First customer‑facing generative AI assistant launched (almost 3× increase in AI self‑resolution). Internal adoption: ~75% of staff with access use AI weekly; ~9,000 employees completed Data & AI Academy courses in H1.
Customer experience and network recognition
Strategic NPS up 5 points (12 months) and episode NPS up 2 points. Telstra won the 2025 umlaut Best in Test Mobile Network Award for the 8th consecutive year with its highest score ever. Satellite messaging proved resilience value (3× increase in connections during Victorian bushfires).
Cost discipline and operating leverage
Underlying operating expenses reduced by ~$179m (≈2.1–2.4%), delivering positive operating leverage of ~3.1 percentage points. BAU CapEx in H1 was $1.5bn, down ~5% (timing), supporting cash EBIT growth of 14% in H1.