Telecommunications company Spark is in better shape and returning to long-term sustainable growth, it says.
Photo: RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson
Spark reaffirmed its earnings guidance for the full year at its annual meeting in Auckland today.
Managing director Simon Moutter said the Spark brand was as strong as ever and was targeting consistent earnings growth.
"I call it 'small g' growth, but we certainly don't want to continue to slide as we have for so many years, so company back in consistent growth in the top line and therefore, earnings," he said.
Mr Moutter said Spark was open to expansion through mergers and acquisitions, although he did not give any details.
One of the company's drivers would be a focus on digital communications, where he emphasised the importance of moving customers off the old copper network and onto fibre and wireless.
"We take around 30,000 trouble calls a month from customers having issues with their copper network and broadband performance and in the winter that rises to nearly 70,000 calls a month," he said.
The company also announced plans to end holding physical annual meetings from next year, a move which prompted some sharp questioning and strong criticism from some shareholders.
But the company said the move to online digital meetings was a way to include more shareholders in the process.