CEO's review
The CEO´s review has been published in DNA Plc’s Business Review for January–March 2025, which was released on 6 May 2025.
The current year has started strongly for DNA. DNA's total revenues increased by 3% to EUR 275 million (266), total service revenues grew by 4% to EUR 218 million (208) and EBITDA rose by 9% to EUR 114 million (104). The number of mobile subscriptions increased to 2,792,000 (2,762,000), with ARPU rising to EUR 19.6 (19.0). The number of fixed broadband subscriptions rose to 695,000 (680,000), and their ARPU increased to EUR 17.1 (16.6). The number of TV subscriptions fell, as expected, a trend that was also accelerated by changes in the reporting methodology.
As from the end of last year, DNA's 5G population coverage is close to 100%, based on Finns' permanent addresses. Network improvements have also been implemented this year. DNA’s old 3G network was already shut down last year. In the first months of this year, frequencies freed up from 3G were also allocated to newer network technologies in the region covered by the Finnish Shared Network that we use in Northern and Eastern Finland. This had already been carried out in DNA's own network last year.
In February, we announced that DNA blocked a total of 35 million scam calls and texts between 2021 and 2024. These prevention efforts continued in the early part of the year, as scams are the fastest-growing information security threat to ordinary citizens. In the early months of the year, DNA responded to its customers' growing need for protection by adding fraud protection to the DNA Digiturva service, which helps identify untrustworthy online stores, blocks malicious websites and detects text message scams. In March, we also announced that DNA Digiturva will be supplemented with online fraud insurance.
In February, we announced that DNA had made a comprehensive agreement with Google Cloud to accelerate our cloud migration. It will also enhance efficiency in software development, as AI capabilities can be harnessed better in DNA applications. DNA has millions of customers and we handle a huge amount of data. For this reason, running AI services would be practically impossible unless the data platform is in the cloud. DNA will continue to maintain critical data in its own data centres using the Google Distributed Cloud service. Other applications and data are stored at Google's data centre in Hamina.
In January 2025, DNA started purchasing electricity from the recently completed Exilion Tuuli wind farm in Ii, North Ostrobothnia. All of the electricity directly purchased by DNA is renewable and, under the new 10-year agreement, more than 80% of it will come from Ii. This agreement with DNA was one of the reasons the wind farm could be built in the first place – a great investment in Finnish green energy.
At DNA, we believe that a humane and people-centric approach to work leads to commitment, excellence and creativity. As the relationship with a new employee already begins during the job application stage, in 2025 we decided to once again recruit all of our approximately 100 summer employees without requesting a traditional CV or application letter. By streamlining the application process, we wanted to reduce the already high workload faced by summer jobseekers. At the same time, we aim to improve the applicant experience and improve equality in jobseeking. We once again received a record number of applications for summer jobs – I’d like to warmly thank the applicants for their interest in us.
Despite a good start to the year, global political developments and market uncertainty kept us on our toes and reminded us of the importance of preparedness and continuity planning. Due to the heightened security situation, we have further bolstered our already robust preparedness for exceptional situations. DNA has numerous independent submarine and land connections from Finland to abroad, thanks to which data transfers can always be routed fault-tolerantly. In addition to our own cables, DNA also owns the equipment facilities along the routes and leases connections from other operators.
In closing, I’ll mention that our duty to release information under the disclosure obligation ended in late March when the bond we had issued that was listed on Nasdaq Helsinki matured. However, DNA will continue to publish press releases about current events as well as key performance and sustainability information as usual. In addition, all official DNA figures are reported as part of the stock exchange reporting of our parent company Telenor ASA, which is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange.
Jussi Tolvanen
CEO