5. Long-term assets
5.1 Property, plant and equipment
 

Significant accounting judgements, estimates and assumptions

Estimation of useful lives and residual values for property, plant and equipment

The useful lives of assets are based on management's estimation. Management considers the impact of changes in technology, customer service requirements and availability of capital funding to determine the optimum useful life expectation for each of the individual categories of property, plant and equipment. Due to the rapid technological advancement in the telecommunications industry, the estimation of useful lives could differ significantly on an annual basis due to unexpected changes in the rollout strategy. The impact of the change in the expected useful lives of property, plant and equipment is described fully in note 3.4.9.. The measurement of residual values of assets is also based on management's judgement whether the assets will be sold or used to the end of their economic lives and the estimation of what their condition will be like at that time. Changes in the useful lives and/or residual values are accounted for as a change in accounting estimate.

Impairments of property, plant and equipment

Management is required to make judgements concerning the cause as well as the amount of impairment. In the identification of impairment indicators, management considers the impact of changes in current competitive conditions, cost of capital, availability of funding, technological obsolescence, discontinuance of services, market changes, legal changes, operating environments and other circumstances that could indicate that an impairment exists. The Group applies the impairment assessment to its CGUs. This requires management to make significant judgements concerning the existence of impairment indicators, identifying CGUs, and estimating the remaining useful lives of assets as well as projected cash flows to determine fair value less costs of disposal or value in use. Management's analysis of CGUs involves an assessment of the ability of a group of assets to independently generate cash inflows, and involves analysing the extent to which different products make use of the same assets. Management's judgement is also required when assessing whether there are indicators that a previously recognised impairment loss should be reversed.

Where impairment indicators exist, determining the recoverable amount of a CGU requires management to make assumptions to determine the value in use. The value in use is calculated using the discounted cash flow valuation method. The determination of value in use is based on a number of factors including the discount rate, revenue growth, terminal growth rates, EBITDA margins and capital expenditure. The judgements, assumptions and methodologies used can have a material impact on the recoverable amount and, ultimately, the amount of impairment loss recognised.

In calculating value in use, consideration is also given to the completion of a network that is partially completed at the date impairment test is performed. Significant judgement is applied in determining if network expansion should be treated as a partially completed asset or an enhancement of an asset (which cash flows are not allowed to be considered in calculation of value in use).

Summary of material accounting policies

Recognition of property, plant and equipment

The cost of an item of property, plant and equipment is recognised as an asset if it is probable that the future economic benefits associated with the item will flow to the Group and the cost of the item can be measured reliably.

Each component of an item of property, plant and equipment with a cost that is significant in relation to the total cost of the item is depreciated separately. Subsequent costs are included in the carrying amount or recognised as a separate asset, as appropriate, only when it is probable that future economic benefits associated with the item will flow to the Group and the cost of the item can be measured reliably.

The carrying amount of any component accounted for as a separate asset is derecognised when replaced.

Assets under construction represent freehold buildings, operating software, network and support equipment and include all direct expenditure as well as related borrowing costs capitalised, but exclude the costs of abnormal amounts of waste material, labour or other resources incurred in the production of self-constructed assets.

Subsequent measurement

Property, plant and equipment is stated at historical cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. Repairs and maintenance expenses are charged to profit or loss during the reporting period in which they are incurred.

Depreciation, residual values and useful lives

The residual value of property, plant and equipment is the estimated amount that the Group would currently obtain from the disposal of the asset, after deducting the estimated cost of disposal, if the asset were already of the age and in the condition expected at the end of its useful life. Due to the technical nature of the Group's assets, the residual value is assumed to be zero based on the active market that is likely to exist at the end of the asset's useful life, which can be used to estimate the residual values.

The estimated useful lives applied are provided in note 3.4.9.

Depreciation is charged from the date the asset is available for use on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life and ceases at the earlier of the date that the asset is classified as held for sale and the date the asset is derecognised. Idle assets continue to attract depreciation.

Impairment of property, plant and equipment

The Group regularly reviews its non-financial assets and CGUs for any indication of impairment. An impairment test is performed when indicators, including changes in technology, market, economic, legal and operating environments, availability of funding or the discontinuation of services and could result in changes to the asset's or CGU's estimated recoverable amount.

An impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss if the carrying amount of an asset or a CGU exceeds its estimated recoverable amount.

Previously recognised impairment losses are reviewed annually for any indication that they may no longer exist or may have decreased. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated. Such impairment losses are reversed in profit or loss if the recoverable amount has increased as a result of a change in the estimates used to determine the recoverable amount, but not to an amount higher than the carrying amount that would have been determined (net of depreciation) had no impairment loss been recognised in prior years.

   2025   2024  2023 
Group  Cost 
Rm 
Accumulated 
depreciation, 
impairment and 
write-offs 
Rm 
Carrying 
value 
Rm 
Cost 
Rm 
Accumulated 
depreciation, 
impairment and 
write-offs 
Rm 
Carrying 
value 
Rm 
Cost 
Rm 
Accumulated 
depreciation, 
impairment and 
write-offs 
Rm 
Carrying 
value 
Rm 
Freehold land and buildings 7 076  (5 074) 2 002  7 056  (4 975) 2 081  7 612  (4 875) 2 737 
Network equipment  104 047  (81 834) 22 213  100 810  (80 039) 20 771  98 718  (78 726) 19 992 
Support equipment  6 852  (5 931) 921  6 642  (5 673) 969  6 437  (5 415) 1 022 
Furniture and office equipment  1 004  (668) 336  823  (601) 222  814  (617) 197 
Data processing equipment and software  3 271  (2 788) 483  3 227  (2 875) 352  3 357  (2 955) 402 
Under construction  1 312  —  1 312  1 538  —  1 538  1 759  —  1 759 
Other1  504  (437) 67  508  (439) 69  512  (443) 69 
   124 066  (96 732) 27 334  120 604  (94 602) 26 002  119 209  (93 031) 26 178 

 

 

   2025   2024  2023 
Company   Cost 
Rm 
Accumulated 
depreciation, 
impairment 
and write-offs 
Rm 
Carrying 
value 
Rm 
Cost 
Rm 
Accumulated 
depreciation, 
impairment 
and write-offs 
Rm 
Carrying 
value 
Rm 
Cost 
Rm 
Accumulated 
depreciation, 
impairment 
and write-offs 
Rm 
Carrying 
value 
Rm 
Freehold land and buildings 1 471  (885) 586  1 457  (875) 582  1 326  (738) 588 
Network equipment  23 237  (15 132) 8 105  22 088  (14 775) 7 313  21 881  (14 837) 7 044 
Support equipment  353  (241) 112  355  (226) 129  317  (208) 109 
Furniture and office equipment 188  (110) 78  165  (106) 59  152  (100) 52 
Data processing equipment and software  2 143  (1 763) 380  2 123  (1 875) 248  2 249  (2 003) 246 
Under construction  947  —  947  930  —  930  847  —  847 
Other1  109  (92) 17  121  (97) 24  112  (92) 20 
   28 448  (18 223) 10 225  27 239  (17 954) 9 285  26 884  (17 978) 8 906 
1 Other includes, for example, intruder detection systems, surveillance equipment, access control systems, mechanical aids and tools, etc.

Finance charges of R48 million (31 March 2024: R39 million) for Group and R32 million (31 March 2024: R28 million) for Company were capitalised to property, plant and equipment and intangible assets in the current financial year.

No material property, plant and equipment has been pledged as security.

The carrying amounts of property, plant and equipment can be reconciled as follows:

   Group    
2025   Carrying 
value at the 
beginning 
of the year 
Rm 
Additions 
Rm 
Transfers 
Rm 
Foreign 
currency 
translation 
Rm 
Disposals 
Rm 
Disposal of 
subsidiary1
Rm 
Depreciation 
Rm 
Write-offs 
and 
impairment 
Rm 
Reclassified 
to held for 
sale 
reversal1
Rm 
Carrying 
value at the 
end of the 
year 
Rm 
Freehold land and buildings 2 081  95  254  (1) (107) (883) (197) (1) 761  2 002 
Network equipment  20 771  4 135  527  —  (1) (407) (2 678) (212) 78  22 213 
Support equipment  969  137  122  —  (1) (293) (15) 921 
Furniture and office equipment 222  32  174  (1) —  —  (89) (2) —  336 
Data processing equipment and software  352  241  —  —  —  (112) —  —  483 
Under construction  1 538  721  (1 135) (6) (5) (294) —  (27) 520  1 312 
Other  69  18  —  —  (12) (16) (1) —  67 
   26 002  5 370  (38) (7) (113) (1 597) (3 385) (258) 1 360  27 334 

 

 

2024   Carrying 
value at 
the beginning 
of the year 
Rm 
Additions 
Rm 
Transfers 
Rm 
Foreign 
currency 
translation 
Rm 
Disposals 
Rm 
Depreciation 
Rm 
Write-offs 
Rm 
Reclassified 
to held for 
sale1
Rm 
Carrying 
value at the 
end of the 
year 
Rm 
Freehold land and buildings  2 737  139  195  (6) (224) —  (761) 2 081 
Network equipment  19 992  2 985  538  —  —  (2 640) (26) (78) 20 771 
Support equipment  1 022  126  124  —  —  (298) (4) (1) 969 
Furniture and office equipment  197  14  85  —  (1) (72) (1) —  222 
Data processing equipment and software  402  79  —  —  (118) (14) —  352 
Under construction  1 759  1 343  (1 025) (1) —  (1) (17) (520) 1 538 
Other  69  13  —  (17) —  —  69 
   26 178  4 699  (77) (7) (3 370) (62) (1 360) 26 002 
1 Swiftnet was sold in the current financial year. In the prior year, Swiftnet was classified as held for sale. Assets classified as held for sale were reversed in the current year and were subsequently disposed of as included in the disposal of subsidiary column. These balances relate to asset held for sale as at 31 March 2024, which have been reclassified per note 12.3. Refer to note 12.2. and note 12.3.

 

The carrying amounts of property, plant and equipment can be reconciled as follows:

   Company
2025   Carrying 
value at the 
beginning of 
the year 
Rm 
Additions 
Rm 
Transfers 
Rm 
Disposals 
Rm 
Depreciation 
Rm 
Write-offs 
Rm 
Carrying 
value at the 
end of the 
year 
Rm 
Freehold land and buildings  582  20  30  (3) (39) (4) 586 
Network equipment  7 313  1 993  —  —  (1 061) (140) 8 105 
Support equipment  129  —  (19) —  112 
Furniture and office equipment  59  28  —  —  (8) (1) 78 
Data processing equipment and software  248  214  (1) —  (81) —  380 
Under construction  930  83  (54) —  —  (12) 947 
Other  24  —  (1) —  (6) —  17 
   9 285  2 339  (25) (3) (1 214) (157) 10 225 

 

2024  Carrying 
value at the 
beginning 
of the year 
Rm 
Additions 
Rm 
Transfers 
Rm 
Disposals 
Rm 
Depreciation 
Rm 
Write-offs 
Rm 
Carrying 
value at the 
end of the 
year  
Rm 
Freehold land and buildings  588  24  14  (4) (40) —  582 
Network equipment  7 044  951  319  —  (1 001) —  7 313 
Support equipment  109  38  (1) (19) (1) 129 
Furniture and office equipment  52  10  —  (7) (1) 59 
Data processing equipment and software  246  76  —  (81) —  248 
Under construction  847  478  (389) —  —  (6) 930 
Other  20  —  (7) —  24 
   8 906  1 540  (5) (1 155) (8) 9 285 

Expansion of the mobile network contributed 45% of the additions to assets. In total, 27% of capital expenditure was on the deployment of fibre, and 13% was on the next-generation POTN core network, rehabilitation and sustainment was 6%, and 1% relates to masts and towers. The balance of 8% capital expenditure is attributable to investment in IT solutions, Telkom properties, regulatory and compliance, strategic initiatives, shared services and other. The focus on expanding mobile network and fibre rollout is expected to continue over the next few years.

Assets with a carrying value to the net amount of R24 million (31 March 2024: R4 million) for the Group and Company were transferred from intangible assets to property, plant and equipment in the current year. Assets with a carrying value to the net amount of R17 million (31 March 2024: R74 million) for Group were transferred from property, plant and equipment to intangible assets in the current year. At the Group level, transfers were effected between property, plant and equipment, intangible assets and inventory (these transfers only take place from CWIP).

Transfers in the Company mostly related to property, plant and equipment, investment property and intangible assets. Assets with a carrying value of R30 million (31 March 2024: R4 million) for Group and Company relate to inventory that was transferred to property, plant and equipment in the current year. Assets with a carrying value of Rnil million (31 March 2024: R2 million) for Company were transferred from property, plant and equipment to investment property (refer to note 5.4).

Changes to the estimated useful lives of property, plant and equipment resulted in a decrease in depreciation of R23 million (31 March 2024: R37 million) for Company and R124 million (31 March 2024: R143 million) for Group. Refer to note 3.4.9. for the useful lives.

The capital expenditure under property, plant and equipment relates to expansions of R4 339 million (31 March 2024: R3 633 million) for Group and R2 104 million (31 March 2024: R1 258 million) for Company. Expenditure due to maintenance is R768 million (31 March 2024: R744 million) for Group and R245 million (31 March 2024: R282 million) for Company.

In addition to the goodwill in the consolidated annual financial statements, the impairment considerations apply equally to the investment in Openserve and BCX (refer to note 5.3) and the property, plant and equipment in the separate annual financial statements. No impairment was recognised on property, plant and equipment in the current and prior financial year.

Property, plant and equipment consists mainly of network equipment. The network equipment within the Company does not generate cash inflows that are largely independent of those from other assets or groups of assets. Property, plant and equipment is included in the impairment testing for the Telkom CGU (refer to note 5.3). The recoverability of property, plant and equipment is largely dependent on macro-economic factors, which include cash flows to be generated through the network assets, as well as internal assumptions and estimates related to realisation levels and operating costs. The impairment test included assessing the recoverable amount of property, plant and equipment, with reference to all cash flows (including the fair value contributory asset income), and comparing this to the carrying amount of the property, plant and equipment (refer to note 5.3).

Property, plant and equipment subject to operating leases

  Group
  31 March 2025 31 March 2024
  Freehold 
land and 
buildings 
Rm 
Furniture 
and office 
equipment 
Rm 
Freehold 
land and 
buildings 
Rm 
Furniture 
and office 
equipment 
Rm 
Opening carrying amount 1 631  25  1 627  12 
Additions 36  —  64 
Depreciation (126) (40) (145) (29)
Transfers 125  167  111  42 
Disposals (20) (1) (26) (1)
Disposal of a subsidiary1 (814) —  —  — 
Closing carrying amount 832  151  1 631  25 
1 Swiftnet was sold in the current financial year. Refer to note 12.2. and 12.3.