Author: Neel Achary

SK Telecom Announces FY 2025 Financial Results, Advances AI Transformation and 5G Growth

Seoul, Feb 5: SK Telecom (NYSE: SKM) today announced its consolidated financial results for the fiscal year ended 2025, reporting revenue of KRW 17.0992 trillion, operating income of KRW 1.0732 trillion, and net income of KRW 375.1 billion, in accordance with Korean International Financial Reporting Standards (K-IFRS).

On a year-on-year basis, consolidated revenue declined by 4.7% from KRW 17.9406 trillion in FY 2024, while operating income fell by 41.1% from KRW 1.8234 trillion. Net income declined by 73.0% compared to KRW 1.3871 trillion in the previous year. On a non-consolidated basis, SK Telecom recorded revenue of KRW 12.0511 trillion and operating income of KRW 811.8 billion for the year.

For the fourth quarter of FY 2025, consolidated revenue stood at KRW 4.3287 trillion, a decline of 4.1% year-on-year, while operating income was KRW 119.1 billion, down 53.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Net income for the quarter was KRW 97.0 billion, reflecting a year-on-year decrease of 75.4%. On a non-consolidated basis, fourth-quarter revenue was KRW 3.0837 trillion, operating income was KRW 130.8 billion, and net income was KRW 106.0 billion.

Despite financial headwinds, including the lingering impact of last year’s cybersecurity incident, SK Telecom made progress in restoring customer trust and stabilising its core telecom business. As of the end of 2025, the company’s 5G subscriber base reached 17.49 million, returning to net growth in the fourth quarter with approximately 230,000 additions compared to the previous quarter. Fixed-line subscribers, including high-speed internet users, also returned to pre-incident net growth levels in Q4.

In 2026, SK Telecom will prioritise Customer Value Innovation while strengthening its fundamental competitiveness, with a clear focus on improving profitability and laying the groundwork for sustainable, long-term growth.

AI Business Gains Momentum

SK Telecom’s artificial intelligence business continued to gain traction during FY 2025. Revenue from AI Data Centers (AIDCs) reached KRW 519.9 billion, representing a strong year-on-year growth of 34.9%, driven by higher utilisation rates at the Gasan (Seoul) and Yangju (Gyeonggi) data centres, as well as the acquisition of the Pangyo data centre.

The Ulsan AIDC, a joint project with Amazon Web Services (AWS), progressed steadily following its groundbreaking in September 2025. Looking ahead, SK Telecom plans to break ground on an additional data centre in Seoul in 2026, strengthen its AIDC solution business, and expand its submarine cable operations to create synergies with its data centre infrastructure.

The company also advanced to Phase 2 of the government-led Sovereign AI Foundation Model project in January 2026, reinforcing its competitiveness in sovereign AI and positioning it to capture further opportunities in government-driven AI initiatives.

Driving AI Integration Across Telecommunications

As part of its accelerated AI Transformation (AX) strategy, SK Telecom plans to integrate AI across all areas of its telecommunications business in 2026, including products and marketing, network operations, and distribution channels. AI-driven automation in network design, deployment, and operations is expected to enhance customer experience, improve productivity, and support profitability recovery.

The company will also advance its AI-based Customer Lifetime Value (LTV) modelling to deliver more personalised products, membership benefits, and distribution experiences tailored to individual customer preferences.

Commenting on the outlook, Park Jong-seok, CFO of SK Telecom, said, “This year, SK Telecom will drive customer value innovation across all areas of our telecommunications and AI businesses, and make every effort to improve our financial performance.”

The conference call discussing SK Telecom’s FY 2025 earnings results will be available via the company’s website on February 5, 2026, from 16:00 Seoul Time.

V-Guard Q3 FY26 Revenue Rises 10.6% Despite One-Time Labour Code Impact on Profit

V-Guard Industries Reports 10.6% Revenue Growth in Q3 FY26; Profit Impacted by One-Time Labour Code Charge

Kochi, Feb 05: V-Guard Industries Ltd., a leading Consumer Electricals and Electronics company, announced its unaudited consolidated financial results for the quarter and nine months ended December 31, 2025.

Q3 FY 2025–26 Highlights

• Consolidated Net Revenue from Operations stood at ₹1,403.51 crore, registering a 10.6% year-on-year growth compared to ₹1,268.65 crore in Q3 FY25.

• Consolidated Profit After Tax (PAT) for the quarter was ₹57.06 crore, reflecting a 5.2% decline from ₹60.22 crore in the corresponding period last year.

• The decline in reported PAT was primarily due to a one-time exceptional charge of ₹22.11 crore related to the reassessment of employee benefit obligations under the New Labour Codes.

• Underlying PAT (excluding the exceptional item) grew by a healthy 22.3% year-on-year, indicating strong operational performance.

Nine Months Ended December 31, 2025

• Consolidated Net Revenue from Operations for the nine-month period was ₹4,210.51 crore, up 4.2% from ₹4,039.74 crore in the same period last year.

• Consolidated PAT stood at ₹196.20 crore, compared to ₹222.58 crore in the corresponding period of the previous year, reflecting an 11.9% decline, largely due to the exceptional labour code-related impact.

Management Commentary

Commenting on the performance, Mr. Mithun K. Chittilappilly, Managing Director, V-Guard Industries Ltd, said:

“The business delivered double-digit growth in the third quarter, primarily driven by strong volume growth in the electrical segment, which also witnessed commodity price inflation.

In light of the notification issued by the Ministry of Labour and Employment on the New Labour Codes, the Company reassessed its employee benefit obligations and recognised an incremental charge of ₹22.11 crore as an exceptional item during the quarter.

Overall margins remain resilient, and as we approach the upcoming summer season, we are optimistic about delivering strong results going forward.”

Outlook

V-Guard continues to focus on driving volume-led growth, managing cost pressures effectively, and leveraging seasonal demand, particularly in its electrical and consumer durable segments. The Company remains confident of sustaining momentum in the coming quarters.

Ahmedabad Housing Prices Rise 8 percent YoY on Strong End-User Demand: Aaiji Group

Lalit Parihar, Managing Director, Aaiji Group, a Dholera-based real estate firm

“Ahmedabad’s 8% year-on-year rise in housing prices reflects the city’s fundamentally strong, end-user-driven demand. Growth here is being powered by genuine demand, improving infrastructure, and sustained economic activity across Gujarat. This steady appreciation reinforces Ahmedabad’s position as one of India’s most affordable and stable real estate markets for both homebuyers and long-term investors.”

Zendesk Appoints Craig Flower as Chief Operating Officer

Bangalore, India, Feb 5:  Zendesk recently announced the appointment of Craig Flower as Chief Operating Officer. In this role, Flower is responsible for strengthening customer engagement and service across all parts of the business, accelerating the transition to AI, and improving operational performance. His appointment underscores Zendesk’s ongoing AI-first transformation and commitment to delivering exceptional service. 

Flower is a seasoned technology executive who previously served as Zendesk’s Chief Information Officer. As CIO, Flower positioned the IT team to connect and support all parts of the company through updated digital tools, better insights and improved service through AI and machine learning.

“AI is fundamentally reshaping the future of customer service, demanding that all those serious about success operate with radical shifts in speed and efficiency,” said Tom Eggemeier, CEO of Zendesk. “Craig is an unmatched leader with a relentless commitment to our customers, operations and transformation who will bring teams together and turn our vision into measurable outcomes, ensuring we stay aligned and focused on delivering outstanding value to our customers.”

As COO, Flower will concentrate on maximizing the value customers gain from Zendesk’s AI tools by simplifying their adoption, delivering exceptional support, and fostering knowledge sharing through a dedicated center of excellence where Zendesk customers and employees can exchange key learnings and best practices. He will accelerate company strategy by innovating and streamlining processes, aligning operations, and enabling faster execution. 

“Modern tech COOs blend customer focus, business strategy, technology, and operational excellence. Zendesk has the right strategy and real momentum; we’re expanding what’s already working to drive alignment and execution week in and week out,” said Craig Flower, COO of Zendesk. “The window is wide open for us to lead AI for Service by staying customer-obsessed, accelerating an AI-first transformation across how we serve, sell, and operate, and achieving strong, measurable results through efficient, modern processes. Strategy matters, but execution wins.”

Prior to Zendesk, Flower served as Chief Technology Officer at TriNet, where he replatformed products, digitized key processes, and accelerated the transition to cloud. Earlier in his career, Flower served as Chief Information Officer at Hewlett-Packard, where during his over 20 year tenure he drove business model innovation alongside process and IT transformation, contributing to significant revenue growth and margin expansion. 

Škoda Auto India Expands Kylaq Line-Up, Celebrates One Year of Strong Growth in the Sub-4m SUV Segment

Mumbai, Feb 05: Škoda Auto India, following its most successful year of sales in 2025 and the introduction of the new Kushaq, continues to accelerate growth with a strengthened product portfolio. Advancing its strategy of democratising European technology for Indian customers, the brand has expanded the variant mix of its best-selling sub-4m SUV, the Škoda Kylaq, offering greater choice, enhanced features, and improved value across the line-up.

Since its launch, the Kylaq has emerged as a cornerstone of Škoda Auto India’s growth story. With over 50,000 units sold, the Kylaq has played a pivotal role in the company’s best-ever sales performance during its 25th year in India. Its strong appeal is driven by a compelling blend of safety, driving dynamics, technology, and value, firmly positioning the Kylaq as a key contender in one of India’s most competitive SUV segments.

Commenting on the Kylaq’s first anniversary, Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Škoda Auto India, said,

“The Kylaq is a strong testament to our long-term commitment to India and marked our entry into the market’s most competitive segment. Crossing the 50,000 sales milestone reflects the growing trust customers place in the Škoda brand. To build on this momentum, we are expanding the Kylaq range with customer-led enhancements and making it the most accessible vehicle in its segment with a real automatic transmission. With a wider and more structured range, and more exciting additions planned later this year, the Kylaq continues to embody European technology, strong value, and engaging driving for Indian roads.”

Expanded Variant Portfolio

For 2026, the Kylaq range grows from four variants and seven price points to six variants and eleven price points, ensuring greater flexibility for buyers. The newly introduced Classic+ variant is positioned between the Classic and Signature trims, while the Prestige+ now sits at the top of the line-up, enhancing choice across entry, mid, and premium offerings.

Democratising European Technology

Reinforcing Škoda Auto India’s accessibility-first approach, the Kylaq Classic+ introduces several premium features at a competitive entry point. These include an electric sunroof, cruise control, Auto IRVM, rain-sensing wipers, LED headlights and taillights, LED DRLs, and a multi-function steering wheel. Notably, it becomes the most accessible vehicle in its segment with a full-fledged automatic torque converter, further strengthening its value proposition.

Enhanced Features Across the Line-Up

Responding to customer demand, the Signature and Signature+ variants now receive additional features such as an electric sunroof, paddle shifters for the automatic, rain-sensing wipers, rear wiper and washer, and LED reading lamps. The premium end of the range has also been expanded with the bifurcation of the Prestige into Prestige and Prestige+, offering more flexibility among fully equipped variants.

Safety and Ownership Assurance

The Škoda Kylaq continues to set benchmarks as the safest ICE vehicle in its segment, earning the highest safety ratings in Bharat NCAP crash tests. All variants come standard with six airbags and over 25 safety features, with higher trims offering more than 40 safety features. Customers also benefit from a best-in-segment four-year standard warranty, four years of roadside assistance, and four labour-free services, including periodic maintenance at 15,000 km and 30,000 km, along with newly introduced Škoda Check-in services at 1,000 km and 7,500 km—enhancing transparency and peace of mind.

Anniversary Offers

To mark one year of the Kylaq’s success, Škoda Auto India has announced limited-period anniversary offers on select variants, with benefits of up to ₹50,000. Additionally, the one-year Škoda Maintenance Package for the Kylaq is available at a 50% discount, along with an assured gift for every Kylaq customer. These offers are valid until February 28, 2026.