América Móvil - Q4 2023
February 14, 2024
Transcript
Operator (participant)
Good morning. My name is Candice, and I will be your conference operator today. At this time, I would like to welcome everyone to the América Móvil fourth Quarter 2023 conference call and webcast. All lines have been placed on mute to present, prevent any background noise. After the speaker's remarks, there will be a question-and-answer session. If you would like to ask a question during this time, simply press star followed by one on your telephone keypad. If you would like to withdraw your question, please press star followed by two. I would now like to turn this conference call over to Ms. Daniela Lecuona. Please go ahead.
Daniela Lecuona (Director of Investor Relations)
Thank you. Good morning, everyone. Thank you for joining us today in our fourth quarter operating and financial review. We have on the line Mr. Daniel Hajj, CEO, Mr. Carlos García Moreno, CFO, and Mr. Óscar Von Hauske, COO.
Daniel Hajj (CEO)
Good morning, everyone. Welcome to América Móvil's fourth quarter of 2023 financial and operating report. Carlos García Moreno is gonna make us the summary of the results. Carlos?
Carlos Moreno (CFO)
Thank you, Daniel. Good morning, everyone. Well, the fourth quarter of 2023 turned out to be an extremely volatile one, with interest rates surging in the first month of the quarter, that's October, to record highs not seen in over 16 years. This was in continuing with the trend that began early in the third quarter, as inflation pressures brought about new increases in reference rates by the Fed. The yield on 10-year Treasury notes, which had stood as low as 3.75 in mid-July, shot up to 5% in exactly three months. But then things turned. New inflation readings appeared to be softer, and the Fed put out the message that no new action on reference rates was expected for at least the remainder of the year.
Huge rally in interest rates followed, with the 10-year Treasury yield plummeting back to where it had been in mid-July. We added 3.9 million wireless subscribers in the fourth quarter, of which 2.7 million were postpaid clients. Brazil contributed with 1.8 million new contract clients, while 329,000 came from Austria, 124,000 from Argentina, and 100,000 from Mexico. The prepaid platform registered net additions of 1.3 million clients in the period, with Colombia gaining 456,000, Mexico 308,000, Argentina 278,000, and Central America roughly the same amount, 269,000. On the fixed line segment, we obtained 386,000 broadband accesses.
Mexico was the leader, adding 150, 155,000 accesses, followed by Brazil with 60,000 and Argentina with 51,000. Look at the base, well, the postpaid base was the more dynamic one, increasing 7% year-on-year, followed by fixed broadband accesses, which were up 4.1%. Prepaid subscriber base grew 1.2%, while Pay TV accesses fell 1.8% year-on-year. At constant exchange rates, service revenue was up 3.7%, in line with the pace registered the prior quarter. Whereas adjusted EBITDA re-accelerated to a 4.6% rhythm in the quarter.
So we basically maintained the pace that we had on service revenue from the third quarter, and we managed to re-accelerate adjusted EBITDA to a 4.6% rhythm. Mobile service revenue expanded 4.2%, much in line with the prior quarter, and, and that's from the fixed line platform, grew 3.0%, continuing the accelerating trend observed throughout the year. This was the fifth consecutive quarter with positive growth on both platforms and ensured that for the full year 2023, revenue increased on the two platforms, on mobile and fixed. Mobile service revenue growth remains stable in Mexico at 4.5%, whereas in Brazil, it slowed down from the prior quarter to 7.1%.
In Central America, mobile service revenue growth accelerated to 10.7%, as you can see on the chart. Revenue from corporate networks led the way on the fixed line platform, expanding 8.1% from the year earlier quarter, followed closely by broadband revenue that posted a 6.6% increase. Pay TV revenue declined slightly, 1.1%, its smallest decline in over a year. Corporate networks revenue growth was strongest in Eastern Europe. Again, you can see this on the chart. 32.2% in Eastern Europe, Colombia at 21.6%, Ecuador 19.5%, and Mexico and Peru, which was slightly more than 14% each. In Central America, it accelerated to 6.6%, having posted every quarter over the last year, faster growth rates than the preceding one.
Now, importantly, Argentina has gone through a period of high inflation in the last several years. Since 2019, it has been subject to the accounting guidelines applicable to hyperinflationary countries, with all the accounting variables expressed in real terms at constant Argentine pesos. For consolidation purposes in our financial statements, with no other economy considered hyperinflationary within América Móvil, those Argentine figures expressed in constant Argentine peso terms at the prevailing prices at the end of the period, must be converted into Mexican pesos at the exchange rate observed at the end of the period per IFRS rules. Given the magnitude of the Argentine peso depreciation, the application of the above mentioned norm generates unusual effects.
In particular, as you can see here on the slide as well, revenue actually decreases by MXN 3.7 billion when Argentina is included in our results. And EBITDA is also reduced by MXN 1.4 billion. We have completely unusual and counterintuitive situation, whereby the inclusion of Argentina does not lead to adding a small amount or a smaller amount than what we had before. It actually leads to a net decline in revenues and EBITDA. Again, this is per the IFRS rules that we are subject to. Other than the above-mentioned unusual accounting effects, the inclusion of Argentina generates MXN 8 billion in foreign exchange losses, and overall results in an MXN 8 billion downward impact on net income to MXN 16.8 billion.
So in the absence of Argentina, we would have posted MXN 28 billion pesos in net income, and MXN 6 billion net income, and with the use of Argentina goes down. So that's basically what we got. Cash flow-wise, our net debt increased by MXN 21 billion, and it complemented our operating cash flow. And it helped us cover capital expenditures in the amount of around MXN 56 billion, shareholder distributions totaling MXN 40 billion, of which MXN 14 billion were share buybacks, and MXN 11.8 billion in labor obligations. So that's the summary, and I would want to pass the floor back to you, again.
Daniel Hajj (CEO)
Yes, thank you, Carlos, and I think we can start now with the Q&A.
Operator (participant)
Thank you. At this time, I would like to remind everyone, in order to ask a question, please press star, then number one on your telephone keypad. We will pause here momentarily to compile the Q&A roster. Our first question comes from the line of Vitor Tomita of Goldman Sachs. Your line is now open. Please go ahead.
Vitor Tomita (VP of Equity Research)
Hello, good morning, all, and thanks for taking our questions. Two questions from our side. The first one would be on the CapEx side. If you, if you could give us an update on your plans for CapEx, and if you plan to maintain that 2022-2024 CapEx envelope of $24 billion after some higher CapEx in 2023. The second question from our side would be on Colombia, if you would have any comments on recently announced regulatory changes in Colombia and on how that might affect your strategy for that country. Thank you very much.
Daniel Hajj (CEO)
Well, the first question, if we look the last three years, 2021, 2022, and 2023, we invest around $25 billion. So what we do with this $25 billion, we do a lot capacity in 4G and 4.5G. We do 5G in a lot of countries. Let's say in Brazil, we have more than 200 cities with 5G, in Mexico, more than 120 cities. And all around, we are doing 5G, where we have, we buy a spectrum in these last three years. Some submarine cables that we need to have redundancy and to have more capacity for data. We do home passes, a lot more home passes all around Latin America.
We change our copper, all copper, we do a lot fiber, and we do also fiber on greenfields. In the B2B, we increase our capacity, more data centers. We're growing revenues, very good revenues growing in B2B. We are—I think we are in a very good shape right now, with all the investment that we have been doing the last three years and the last five years, because we have been investing this amount of money. What we're seeing this year is that we have the capacity to reduce the CapEx for this year. What we had last year of $8.6 billion of CapEx, we are gonna reduce this year to $7 billion on CapEx. That's what our budget gives us.
We still wanna be doing and growing in every country, in Latin America, in Europe, and developing still fiber and growing also in 5G in some countries where we don't have. And with all of that, the CapEx that we have for this year is $7 billion. So a good reduction from last year is the CapEx that we projected for 2024. In Colombia, we have some changes in the regulatory side. We don't like to have more. All the countries are taking out the regulatory measures because what they want is investments. And in Colombia, we're having a little bit more regulatory obligations to do, but well, Colombia, we're gonna still invest.
We're reviewing very deeply how they are gonna hit us, and, but we are still maintaining our investments in Colombia and growing. We get the frequencies in 5G last year. We're gonna put 5G in this year. I think the competition is strong, a lot of promotions, things happening in the market. So we are still very strong in Colombia, and, we're gonna still invest what we need to invest there.
Vitor Tomita (VP of Equity Research)
Very clear. Thank you very much.
Daniel Hajj (CEO)
Thank you.
Operator (participant)
Our next question comes from the line of Walter Piecyk of LightShed. Your line is now open. Please go ahead.
Walter Piecyk (Partner and TMT Analyst)
Thanks. The ARPU, the mobile ARPU growth has been pretty steady in Mexico. I'm curious if that can sustain going forward. Also, I see Brazil had some growth. And on Colombia, are there lessons learned there that things that you're doing in Mexico and Brazil to, I guess, either increase usage or otherwise get people on postpaid, whatever the factors are that are driving that ARPU growth that can be implemented in Colombia?
Daniel Hajj (CEO)
Well, well, first, in Mexico. In Mexico, we're growing our ARPUs, like, 3.1%, more in prepaid than in postpaid. And, well, it's related, we haven't increased prices in Mexico. Our customers are sometimes upgrading our plans, and that is what's giving us all contracts in new and higher plans with 5G. So 5G is helping us to increase the ARPU in Mexico. And, well, that's what people is using more data. So that's what is happening. So 3.1% increase in ARPU, I think it's good because in Mexico, we have the highest ARPUs there.
In Colombia, what is happening in the last two to three years is a lot of competition with all the new competitors giving a lot of data in their plans. So, what is happening is that with all this data, you need to do better plans also, and sometimes our customers are downgrading because they have less rent with more data on their actual plan. So but I think that's already finished. I think it's been finished since mid of last year, and I hope that this year we can increase in Colombia ARPUs.
And in Brazil, in Brazil, we're doing very good in ARPUs, growing 7%, increasing our postpaid base, growing a lot machine to machine, also doing good in corporate, and well, that's we already consolidate all the subscribers of Oi. I think it was very good the way we consolidate. We are gainers in number portability, so we're gaining market share in Brazil.
Walter Piecyk (Partner and TMT Analyst)
Thanks. And then, for the CapEx, the $8.6 billion, that you mentioned, I think a portion of that, I guess, is how you would describe purchase of intangible assets. I'm not sure if that's spectrum or software. So when you think about the $8.6 billion, what's the general mix of spectrum or software versus true telco infrastructure or fiber? And then is the reduction from $8.6 billion to $7 billion really just the drop off of just not having spectrum or intangible asset purchases, or is there...? If you could just give a little bit more detail on the elements of what's in the $8.6 billion and the $7 billion. Thanks.
Daniel Hajj (CEO)
I don't have exactly the detail on that, but I think on spectrum, we already get the spectrum. What we need, I think the only thing that we have for this year is to renew the spectrum of Ecuador and maybe two or three other countries, the small countries on the spectrum. But Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, we already get all the spectrum there. So the reduction that we're gonna have this year is, in what I already said, is wireless infrastructure, fixed-line infrastructure, transport networks, IT. IT, it's gonna be more or less the same for transport because we have been putting, let's say, fiber to the node, photonics also. We already do all the photonics.
It means all the new technologies for the backbone and transport. So all of that, we already do big part of that, so allow us to reduce the CapEx on new sites, 5G sites, home passes, greenfield and brownfield, because we change a lot of our copper, that old copper that we have. In the variable, there's part in the CapEx that is variable, means the same, depending on the sales that you have. And that will be more or less the same, because we think that we still can grow this year, as we grow last year. So even we have a better budget for broadband, fixed broadband, for this year than for last year.
In the spectrum, as I said, the big thing that we have for this year is more on Ecuador to renew the spectrum on Ecuador. So the 700 MHz that we bought in Colombia and Argentina was in 2023. Mexico, we already have before, and Brazil already. So the year we don't see any important spending on the spectrum besides Ecuador for this year. So all of that allow us to reduce the CapEx to $7 billion.
Walter Piecyk (Partner and TMT Analyst)
Okay, thank you. If I could get one more, just, and if not-
Daniel Hajj (CEO)
Yes.
Walter Piecyk (Partner and TMT Analyst)
You can just move on to the next caller. But Telekom Austria, is it, is this really an essential asset to keep in the portfolio? If you think about the longer term, if you have an opportunity perhaps to exit that market and remain focused in Latin America. Just, just give me your, your refresh thoughts, because obviously revenue is not growing there on the mobile side. So just curious your thoughts of the importance of Telekom Austria going forward, forward.
Daniel Hajj (CEO)
Well, I think Telekom Austria came with all the Eastern Europe countries, and I think we're growing good in all these countries. Look, these countries are more or less, yeah, the same size as Austria. We're growing very good, and I think we can grow a little bit more on Austria. No, we don't want. We want to stay with the company. We bought some shares, I think, 8% more last quarter. We already have, like, 60%, if I remember exactly, 59%-something. We used to have 51%.
Walter Piecyk (Partner and TMT Analyst)
Yeah.
Daniel Hajj (CEO)
So, we're increasing, and we feel very comfortable, very good cash flow company, Carlos?
Carlos Moreno (CFO)
No, I, I think it's important, also, Walter, right, to, to mention that the, the country has been fully deregulated after having been subject to a symmetric regulation for about 30 years. And it's a little bit what Daniel is mentioning, you know, they want to drive more investment into the sector. I think that there's a lot to be done still on the fixed line side, on fiber. There's still a lot to grow on fiber. But it's a very good market. On B2B, it's excellent. We're providing a lot of services, not only into Austria, but also out of Austria, into Eastern Europe and into Germany, for instance, which is very important, and it's been going surprisingly well. So I think that there's many very positive things that we can say about the overall investment in Europe or Austria. In Europe.
Walter Piecyk (Partner and TMT Analyst)
Okay, thank you.
Carlos Moreno (CFO)
Thank you.
Daniel Hajj (CEO)
Thank you.
Operator (participant)
Thank you. Our next question comes from Marcelo Santos of JPMorgan. Your line is now open. Please go ahead.
Marcelo Santos (Senior Sell-side Equity Analyst)
Hi, good morning. Thank you for taking the questions. I have two. The first question would be on Mexican broadband. Could you talk a bit more about the nature of the strong print in Mexican broadband adds? What is more on higher gross adds or lower churn? Is there a regional angle, some areas growing faster than others? So just wanted to understand a bit more this very good broadband add in Mexico. And the second question is on CapEx. Very clear that the CapEx for this year should be $7 billion. Is this a good indication for the years to come? Do you think that is a sustainable level for the coming years, around $7 billion? Thank you.
Daniel Hajj (CEO)
Yeah. About Mexico program, as we mentioned before, we've been pushing pretty hard the migration from copper to fiber, and now 81% of the customers are already connected with fiber. 81%. So we really cover all the customer base with fiber to the home. Secondly, we've been launching in the market a very, very unique packages with speed, symmetrical speeds that brings value to our customers. And secondly, we've, we did some packages that include streaming video platforms included in the broadband. Has been very well accepted in the market, so... And, and another part is that we changed all the processes of installation and repair to, to have a better customer experience in Mexico.
It's why we got a very good net adds, and we believe that we will still continue to getting good proportion of the net adds this year. Yeah. And on the CapEx, it's too early to say something right now. I think we're gonna do the $7 billion. I think for next year, we don't see also a big spendings on the spectrum also. So, and let's see, with all these technologies, new technologies that we have been putting, all the digitalization, I think we're this year in very good shape. I don't know for next year, but I what I can tell you is that we have the best network by far in Latin America, all around Latin America, and that give us a good advantage right now.
We do big investments, good investments.
Marcelo Santos (Senior Sell-side Equity Analyst)
Thank you very much. Thank you.
Operator (participant)
Thank you. Thank you. Our next question comes from the line of Andres Coello of UBS. Your line is now open. Please go ahead.
Andres Coello (Equity Research Analyst)
Hi, everyone. Good morning. Thanks for taking my question here. I got two on my side. The first one is about margins in Mexico. I know you had some one time last quarter, but do you see the margin expanding closer to what we had in 2022, fourth quarter? And which factors could drive this potential expansion? We just wanna know how the company is feeling about our current levels of margin in Mexico with this. And the second question is about Argentina. So besides the translation effect, what other factors are you guys monitoring in the country? I'm talking about broader terms here, such as impact on your customers, maybe higher delinquency rates or lower frequency of the charges in prepaid, and any changes in the regulatory agency.
Daniel Hajj (CEO)
Sir, you... Hello.
Daniela Lecuona (Director of Investor Relations)
Andre, we cannot hear you very well.
Daniel Hajj (CEO)
Yes, we cannot hear your question.
Daniela Lecuona (Director of Investor Relations)
Our line is breaking.
Daniel Hajj (CEO)
See, your line is not so good, Andre. I'm sorry.
Andres Coello (Equity Research Analyst)
Yeah. Yeah, the first question is about margin. Sorry about that. But the first question is about margin in Mexico. If you could repeat again,
Daniel Hajj (CEO)
Margin in Mexico.
Andres Coello (Equity Research Analyst)
Margin in Mexico.
Daniel Hajj (CEO)
Well, the margin in Mexico is just the same as last year. I think we have a very good margin, over 40%. And I can tell you that in Mexico, it's a lot of promotions, big competition in mobile and in fixed. And what we're doing is we are really cutting costs, doing a lot of digitalization for the cost side, and having good plans, and that's more or less what we're doing. I think we can sustain this margin for next year. We are growing in Mexico, something that's being very good in 2023 against 2022, is our postpaid base is starting to grow very good in 2023.
So that allow us to have more better customers, higher ARPU customers. So that's something that is doing good in Mexico.
Carlos Moreno (CFO)
Only to add to what Daniel is saying, I think it's important to focus on the adjusted EBITDA in Mexico. If you correct for the sale of Telmex towers that took place in the last quarter of 2022, then the margin collected for this was 40.2%. It has increased for this year to 40.6% on that basis. So we had an increase of margins in Mexico, and I think that we will continue to increase in this fashion.
Daniel Hajj (CEO)
Yes. On Argentina, I don't know, what, what's your question on Argentina?
Andres Coello (Equity Research Analyst)
Yes. Yes, I want to know in broader terms here, about Argentina, do you see some factors that we need to monitor, such as, impacting customers due to everything that is happening in the country, higher delinquency rates, lower frequency of charges in prepaid? Do you see any of that, or it's too early here to tell?
Daniel Hajj (CEO)
Well, what we're... In Argentina, I think the operations are doing good. We are growing. We're allowing to increase some prices because of the inflation. And in the, we have a very good growth in the fixed broadband. In the fixed broadband, we have been growing the last two years too. Pay TV, we're growing in the mobile. So the operations in Argentina are good, and we're growing our RGUs in Argentina, like 26%. We end the year with 3.2 million RGUs in Argentina, 4.4 more in wireless. So we are doing good. I hope that Argentina, with all these changes, goes to a better economy.
We are still investing and doing what we need to do in Argentina. We think that Argentina is very important for us, and that in the next years, maybe we can see a much better economy, and we're gonna be much stronger than what is today, Argentina.
Andres Coello (Equity Research Analyst)
Okay. Super clear and, yeah. Yeah, no. No, as Daniel mentioned, that was clear. Thanks for that. Thanks for that.
Daniela Lecuona (Director of Investor Relations)
Andre, Andre, we cannot hear you. If you have a-
Andres Coello (Equity Research Analyst)
Yeah, that was my question.
Daniela Lecuona (Director of Investor Relations)
Email me the question, and we can maybe move forward with the next question.
Operator (participant)
Thank you. Our next question comes from the line of Phani Kanumuri of HSBC. Your line is now open. Please go ahead.
Phani Kanumuri (Equity Research Analyst)
Thank you for taking my questions. The first question is that, in line with your CapEx guidance, we can expect an increase in cash flow. What would be the use of the cash flow? Are you looking at de-leveraging or giving it back to the shareholders? So that's the first question. The second question is regarding Chile. How long do you think it will become before Chile can become a self-sustaining operations by itself? And how much equity infusion would likely be needed in Chile going forward? Thank you.
Carlos Moreno (CFO)
Okay, so on the first question, the cash flow, well, as we have said, up to now, we don't expect to reduce our leverage further. I think that we would want to remain in a band between 1.3x and 1.5x our net debt to EBITDA. So that's one of the objectives. We don't have anything on M&A currently in our plan. So essentially, this means that whatever excess cash flow there is will be distributed back to shareholders. And on Chile, I think what the...
All the synergies we have been working in the company, all the synergies has been doing very well, the operations, improving and, well.
Daniel Hajj (CEO)
The management.
Carlos Moreno (CFO)
The management, we're reducing costs. We're putting a much better network. We're doing capacity. We're doing a lot of things in Chile, and we're working for the long term, and I think we can position the company together. It's a company over $1 billion, so it's big enough to compete and to be a competitive company in Chile. It is a company that has many advantages, as has been pointed out. It has some challenges as well. It's a difficult operating environment, and there's plenty to do over the next two to three years.
But as Daniel says, what we are focused on is the long term, and we expect that in the long term, this will be a good investment.
Daniel Hajj (CEO)
Yeah. I just, I will add that we have the right management in place.
Phani Kanumuri (Equity Research Analyst)
Yeah.
Daniel Hajj (CEO)
Yeah. Okay.
Phani Kanumuri (Equity Research Analyst)
Thanks a lot. Yeah.
Daniel Hajj (CEO)
Thank you.
Operator (participant)
Thank you. Our next question comes from the line of Fred Mendes of Bank of America. Your line is now open. Please go ahead.
Fred Mendes (Equity Research Associate)
Hello, good morning, everyone, and thanks for the call. I have two questions as well. The first one is on Telcel, and it's mainly on ARPU. Do you think that the ARPU, they are where they should be, pretty much? Or you think there is room for a more aggressive pricing strategy, especially on postpaid? I think Daniel mentioned that ARPU have been increased mainly on prepaid. So I was just wondering if you see room for a more aggressive pricing strategy in 2024 for postpaid. And then the second one is on Brazil and mainly the mobile market as well. We are seeing other players, for example, they give a guidance for next three years of real growth, top line growth, especially through price increase.
So my point is, do you think that that's the trend that at least you expect internally for Brazil for the next three years, like real growth on the mobile through price increase? Or you think that eventually someone could try to gain market share and be more aggressive on price and make it a more, let's say, more challenging market? This is the expectations for Brazil for next year. Thank you.
Daniel Hajj (CEO)
Well, well, let's talk about the ARPUs in Mexico. What I can tell you, Fred, is that we have the best 5G network. What we're seeing is that 5G subscribers are using more and are upgrading their plans. And it's the trend that we're seeing all around Latin America, and as people is moving more to 5G, they are getting better plans. In the other side, we have a lot of competition and a lot of promotions, and well, that's the other. But I think the ARPUs in prepaid, we have been doing good. Our prepaid is growing around 4%, and postpaid is growing about to 2%. So all overall, it's okay.
I think we can sustain that, and with the network, the quality, people is choosing to move to Telcel. Number portability is doing also good. So all overall, we are doing good, but in the other side, we have big promotions from Altan and all the other competitors. So that's what you see in Mexico, and well, let's see how it's gonna be shaped for this year. And in Brazil, is what I don't understand what your question is that if we are gonna have real growth in postpaid, is what you are saying?
Fred Mendes (Equity Research Associate)
Yes, Daniel, basically, I mean, one of the other players in Brazil, they already published a guidance, right? For the next three years of real growth at the expectation, and that's coming mainly from through price increase. So my question to you guys is, if you expect the same, you're seeing the same angle as these other players in Brazil are seeing, or you believe that eventually the market could get more aggressive, with someone trying to gain, let's say, more market share?
Daniel Hajj (CEO)
I think we want more market share, but we are not gonna do crazy things. I think Brazil is a market where you need to do intelligent things, and if there is a possibility to increase prices, we have been increasing prices in the last year. So I think if there's an opportunity and still the inflation allow us to increase prices, we are gonna increase prices. But we're gonna compete, and we want to have a market share.
So both, where we want to increase prices because the inflation and the costs requires, but we, with the network, with the 5G, with the coverage, all the investments that we have been doing in the commercial side, I think we can still grow a little bit of market share.
Fred Mendes (Equity Research Associate)
Perfect. Very clear.
Daniel Hajj (CEO)
In the fixed side also, we are leaders in ultra broadband, leaders in IPTV. So that to do the convergence and to leaders in broadband, to do all the combos that we're doing there also help us to grow, as uh-
Fred Mendes (Equity Research Associate)
Great. Perfect. Very clear. Thank you.
Daniel Hajj (CEO)
Thank you.
Operator (participant)
Thank you. The next question comes from the line of Carlos Legarreta from Itaú. Your line is now open. Please go ahead.
Carlos Legarreta (VP of Equity Research)
Thank you. Good morning, everybody. The first question is in Mexico, on the wireless side. If you could talk about the possibility of raising prices, if, if they allow, if the environment allows you to do that, both on prepaid and postpaid. And the second question is-
Daniel Hajj (CEO)
Sorry, sorry, sorry. We don't, we-
Carlos Legarreta (VP of Equity Research)
Yeah. Sorry, go ahead. Go ahead. Go ahead. Yes.
Daniel Hajj (CEO)
We don't, we don't hear you. Can you repeat that question? Because also, the line is not clear.
Carlos Legarreta (VP of Equity Research)
Sorry about that. I hope this is better.
Daniel Hajj (CEO)
Yeah. Yes.
Carlos Legarreta (VP of Equity Research)
Just on wireless in Mexico, if you could talk about if the environment allows you to perhaps increase prices during this year, both on prepaid or and postpaid. And secondly, for Telmex, it looks like there's a number of developments going on with the two-year review of the regulatory asymmetric measures, perhaps changes in the regulation schemes in Mexico. And obviously, you know, the recent statements by your chairman, you know, notably, Mr. Slim. So if you can talk a little bit about what's going on there, because the actual results of Telmex in broadband, your recovery were pretty good. So just, you know, what are your thoughts on Telmex in general, that will also be helpful. Thank you.
Daniel Hajj (CEO)
Well, in terms of the regulation, we hope that things will be deregulated in Telmex. We don't have, I think-
Carlos Legarreta (VP of Equity Research)
Thank you.
Daniel Hajj (CEO)
No, we don't have pay TV, and if you check the market share that we have, I between pay TV, broadband, and fixed, I think we have around 30-
Carlos Legarreta (VP of Equity Research)
30-
Daniel Hajj (CEO)
30-
Carlos Legarreta (VP of Equity Research)
30.6%.
Daniel Hajj (CEO)
30.6%, so I don't think they should regulate more a company like that. We expect that they deregulate some of the measures. So with what we expect, we only have 30%, or 31% or-
Carlos Legarreta (VP of Equity Research)
31%
Daniel Hajj (CEO)
... 31% of the market and, in the fixed side, so we don't think that will become. In Mexico, in the wireless sector to increase prices, we don't know. We have a lot of customers with, in postpaid with a contract, so, if when they finish the contract, we can do something, but we cannot do anything until they finish their contract. We are putting in contract a lot of subscribers now, but we still don't think, at this time, we don't think that we are gonna increase prices. What we think is that we can give more to our customers to upgrade their plan, right now. So it's what we are working on and, give more for more.
It's the strategy that we are doing and what we are thinking for this year in Mexico.
Carlos Legarreta (VP of Equity Research)
Thank you. And then a follow-up, if I may, perhaps for Carlos. I mean, first of all, congratulations on the debt issue. And I'm just wondering if, if you could do further ESG-related issues down the road, so you can help lower your cost of financing?
Daniel Hajj (CEO)
Thank you, Carlos. I think that you know, we launched this program a few months ago, which is Global Peso Notes. This is basically to be sold to more local investors and international investors. I think it's grown a lot of traction. We intend it to become a very, very liquid program, probably the best alternative to Bonos in Mexico. And yes, I think that we will continue the idea to be in the market 2x-3xa year.
Carlos Moreno (CFO)
... including the openings of the bonds. And I think that we will definitely be coming back to Mexico, at least, to the Mexican or the international market with better notes, once more this year, if not two.
Daniel Hajj (CEO)
Thank you for that.
Carlos Legarreta (VP of Equity Research)
Thank you.
Operator (participant)
Thank you. As a reminder, if you'd like to ask a question, please press star followed by one on your telephone keypad. Our final question comes from Alejandro Azar from GBM. Your line is now open. Please go ahead.
Alejandro Azar (VP, Head of Capital Goods, Building Materials, and Media and Telecom)
Hi, good morning. Thank you for taking my question. A quick one, and I just want to understand on, on your free cash flow, the, the working capital. During the last three years, you guys have taken close to MXN 100 billion in working capital uses. I just wondering, what's, what's happening on, on, on, on those accounts? What's. Which account is the, the, the reason, and, and how should we see working capital for AMX in 2024 or perhaps going forward? Thank you.
Carlos Moreno (CFO)
You know, I mean, if you'd like to, we can review this separately, but I think generally, our working capital basically breaks even every year. It is very seasonal, so depending on where, what numbers you are looking at, you might be looking at increases in working capital. Because it does increase significantly during the first six or seven months of the year, and then it comes down later. So I think we have not had major increases or changes in working capital in the last two years.
Daniel Hajj (CEO)
To add something what on Carlos, on what Carlos is saying. All what we have been doing and maybe increase a little with the working capital is that we're financing a lot of the handsets. So we are going and finance is a very good business, and what the customers what they like is that they can buy a better handset or a 5G handset. So we are financing that, and that increase a little our... But it's a very good business. We finance them, and that will be good. Good.
Carlos Moreno (CFO)
The other thing to note is, if you start out with 2021, then it's a bad year because we reduced significantly CapEx in 2020 because of the pandemic, and that means that we didn't really have accounts payable that we needed, you know, the new accounts payable. So we had an issue because we had we did have to increase working capital in 2021 as opposed to 2020, on account of what I just said.
Alejandro Azar (VP, Head of Capital Goods, Building Materials, and Media and Telecom)
Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Carlos Moreno (CFO)
Thank you.
Alejandro Azar (VP, Head of Capital Goods, Building Materials, and Media and Telecom)
Thank you, Carlos and Daniel.
Carlos Moreno (CFO)
Thank you.
Carlos Legarreta (VP of Equity Research)
Thank you.
Operator (participant)
Thank you. As there are no additional questions waiting at the time, I'd like to turn the conference call back over to Mr. Daniel Hajj for closing remarks.
Daniel Hajj (CEO)
I just want to thank everyone for being in the call, and thank you, Óscar, Daniel, and Carlos. Thank you very much.
Operator (participant)
This concludes today's conference call. You may now disconnect your lines.