Singapore Telecommunications Limited – Annual report – 31 March 2022
Industry: telecoms
48.5 Joint ventures of the Group
Notes:
(1) The place of business of the joint ventures are the same as their country of incorporation, unless otherwise specified.
(2) The Group holds substantive participating rights over the significant financial and operating decisions of the above joint ventures, which enables the Group to exercise joint control with the other shareholders.
(3) The company has been equity accounted for in the consolidated financial statements based on the results for the year ended, or as at, 31 December 2021, the financial year-end of the company.
(4) Audited by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Jaiyos Audit Co. Ltd, Bangkok.
(5) This represents the Group’s direct interest in AIS.
(6) Audited by Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP, New Delhi. Bharti Airtel Limited has business operations in 18 countries representing India, Sri Lanka, 14 countries in Africa, and joint ventures in 2 countries.
(7) Audited by Isla Lipana & Co./PwC Philippines.
(8) The Group has a 46.9% effective economic interest in Globe.
(9) The Southern Cross Cable Consortium operates through two separate companies. Southern Cross Cables Holdings Limited owns a cable network between Australia and the USA, with operations outside the USA. Pacific Carriage Holdings Limited Inc. has operations within the USA.
(10) Audited by Purwantono, Sungkoro & Surja (a member firm of Ernst & Young).
(11) Audited by KPMG, Bermuda.
(12) Pacific Carriage Holdings Limited was restructured into Pacific Carriage Holdings Limited Inc.
24. JOINT VENTURES
As at 31 March 2022,
(i) The market value of the quoted equity shares in joint ventures held by the Group was S$35.94 billion (31 March 2021: S$24.97 billion).
(ii) The Group’s proportionate interest in the capital commitments of joint ventures was S$3.27 billion (31 March 2021: S$3.77 billion).
The details of joint ventures are set out in Note 48.5.
Optus has an interest in an unincorporated joint operation to share certain 4G network sites and radio infrastructure across Australia whereby it holds an interest of 50% (31 March 2021: 50%) in the assets, with access to the shared network and shares 50% (31 March 2021: 50%) of the cost of building and operating the network.
The Group’s property, plant and equipment included the Group’s interest in the property, plant and equipment employed in the unincorporated joint operation amounting to S$0.97 billion (31 March 2021: S$1.01 billion).
The summarised financial information of the Group’s significant joint ventures namely Bharti Airtel Limited (“Airtel”), PT Telekomunikasi Selular (“Telkomsel”), Globe Telecom, Inc. (“Globe”) and Advanced Info Service Public Company Limited (“AIS”), based on their financial statements and a reconciliation with the carrying amounts of the investments in the consolidated financial statements were as follows –
‘‘NA’’ denotes Not Applicable.
Notes:
(1) The above is based on the Group’s direct equity interest in AIS.
(2) ‘Others’ include adjustments to align the respective local accounting standards to SFRS(I).
‘‘NA’’ denotes Not Applicable.
“*” denotes amount of less than S$0.05 million.
Notes:
(1) The above is based on the Group’s direct equity interest in AIS.
(2) ‘Others’ include adjustments to align the respective local accounting standards to SFRS(I).
The aggregate information of the Group’s investments in joint ventures which are not individually significant were as follows –
45. SIGNIFICANT CONTINGENT LIABILITIES OF ASSOCIATES AND JOINT VENTURES
(a) Airtel, a joint venture of the Group, has disputes with various government authorities in the respective jurisdictions where its operations are based, as well as with third parties regarding certain transactions entered into in the ordinary course of business.
On 8 January 2013, Department of Telecommunications (“DOT”) issued a demand on Airtel Group for Rs. 52.01 billion (S$930 million) towards levy of one time spectrum charge, which was further revised on 27 June 2018 to Rs. 84.14 billion (S$1.51 billion), excluding related interest. In the opinion of Airtel, the above demand amounts to alteration of the terms of the licences issued in the past. Airtel had filed a petition with the Hon’ble High Court of Bombay, which has directed DOT not to take any coercive action until the next date of hearing. The matter is currently pending with the Hon’ble High Court of Bombay.
On 4 July 2019, the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (“TDSAT”) in a similar matter of another unrelated telecom service provider, passed an order providing partial relief and confirming the basis for the balance of the one time spectrum charge. The said telecom service provider filed an appeal in the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India which was dismissed on 16 March 2020. With the ruling, Airtel Group has assessed and provided Rs. 18.08 billion (S$323 million) of the principal demand as well as the related interest. Notwithstanding this, Airtel Group intends to continue to pursue its legal remedies.
Other taxes, custom duties and demands under adjudication, appeal or disputes and related interest for some disputes as at 31 March 2022 amounted to approximately Rs. 142.4 billion (S$2.55 billion). In respect of some of the tax issues, pending final decisions, Airtel had deposited amounts with statutory authorities.
(b) AIS, a joint venture of the Group, has various commercial disputes and significant litigations which are pending adjudication.
National Telecom Public Company Limited (“NT”) has demanded that AIS pay the following:
(i) additional charges for porting of subscribers from 900MHz to 2100MHz network of THB 41.1 billion (S$1.67 billion) plus interest.
(ii) additional revenue share of THB 62.8 billion (S$2.55 billion) arising from what NT claims to be an illegality of two amendments made to the Concession Agreement, namely, Amendment 6 (regarding reduction in prepaid revenue share rate) made in 2001 and Amendment 7 (regarding deduction of roaming expense from revenue share) made in 2002, which have resulted in lower revenue share. In January 2020, AIS received the award from the Arbitral Tribunal to pay THB 31.1 billion (S$1.26 billion) and 1.25% interest per month after 30 November 2015. In April 2020, AIS filed a motion to the Central Administrative Court to set aside the award which was followed by NT’s appeal to the Central Administrative Court to increase the award to THB 62.8 billion (S$2.55 billion).
(iii) additional revenue share from disputes on roaming rates from 2013 to 2015 of THB 16.3 billion (S$661 million).
As at 31 March 2022, other claims against AIS and its subsidiaries which are pending adjudication amounted to THB 10.1 billion (S$413 million).
The above claims have not included potential interest and penalty.
AIS believes that the above claims will be settled in favour of AIS and will have no material impact to its financial statements.
(c) In October 2017, Intouch and its subsidiary, Thaicom Public Company Limited (“Thaicom”), received letters from the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (the “Ministry”) stating that Thaicom 7 and Thaicom 8 satellites (the “Satellites”) are governed under the terms of a 1991 satellite operating agreement between Intouch and the Ministry (“Agreement”) which entails the transfer of asset ownership, procurement of backup satellites, payment of revenue share, and procurement of property insurance. Intouch and Thaicom have obtained legal advice and are of the opinion that the Satellites are not covered under the Agreement but instead under the licence from the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (“NBTC”). This case is pending arbitration.
In November 2020, Intouch and Thaicom received notices from the Ministry requesting for replacement of the de-orbited Thaicom 5 satellite, or compensation equivalent to the value of satellite at THB 7.8 billion (S$317 million) plus fines and interest. The cases are pending arbitration.
In June 2021, Thaicom received a letter from NBTC stating that Thaicom’s rights to use the orbital slots of Thaicom 7 and Thaicom 8 satellites were up to 10 September 2021 only. Thaicom filed a complaint to the Central Administrative Court (“CAC”) and the CAC has granted an injunction on 9 August 2021 protecting Thaicom’s rights to use these orbital slots until the CAC issues the order.
(d) Globe, a joint venture of the Group, is contingently liable for various claims arising in the ordinary conduct of business and certain tax assessments which are either pending decision by the Courts or are being contested, the outcome of which are not presently determinable. In the opinion of Globe’s management and legal counsel, the eventual liability under these claims, if any, will not have a material or adverse effect on Globe’s financial position and results of operations.
In June 2016, the Philippine Competition Commission (“PCC”) claimed that the Joint Notice of Acquisition filed by Globe, PLDT Inc. (“PLDT”) and San Miguel Corporation (“SMC”) on the acquisition of SMC’s telecommunications business was deficient and cannot be claimed to be deemed approved. In July 2016, Globe filed a petition with the Court of Appeals of the Philippines (“CA”) to stop the PCC from reviewing the acquisition. In October 2017, the CA ruled in favour of Globe and PLDT, and declared the acquisition as valid and deemed approved. PCC subsequently elevated the case to the Supreme Court to review the CA’s rulings.
(e) As at 31 March 2022, Telkomsel, a joint venture of the Group, has filed appeals and cross-appeals amounting to approximately IDR 465 billion (S$44 million) for various tax claims arising in certain tax assessments which are pending final decisions, the outcome of which is not presently determinable.
Accounts examples 