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KonaTel Reports Second Quarter 2024 Results and California Expansion
ACCESS Newswire · KonaTel

In This Article:

Focus on California Lifeline and Hosted Services Expansion

DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / August 14, 2024 / KonaTel, Inc. (OTCQB:KTEL) (www.konatel.com), a voice/data communications holding company, today announced financial results for the three-month period ended June 30, 2024.

Second Quarter 2024 Financial Summary

  • Revenues of $4.3 million, down 5.6% compared to the second quarter last year.

  • Gross profit of $900,000, up 16.2% compared to the second quarter last year.

  • Operating loss of $(1.3) million compared to operating loss of $(1.0) million in the second quarter last year.

  • GAAP net loss of $(1.1) million, or $(0.03) per share, compared to $(1.2) million, or $(0.03) per share, in the second quarter last year.

  • Non-GAAP net loss of $(885,000), or $(0.02) per diluted share, compared to Non-GAAP net loss of $(900,000), or $(0.02) per diluted share, in the second quarter of last year.

  • Cash remained healthy at $3.7 million versus $1.1 million for the same quarter last year, and $3.9 million in Q1 2024.

Sean McEwen, Chairman and CEO of KonaTel stated, "In Q1 we were optimistic Congress would have taken swift action to preserve highspeed broadband internet service subsidies for the then 23 million low-income American families under the ACP program. Unfortunately, that did not occur."

McEwen continued, "Although we have no information regarding Congress' intentions to re-fund ACP, on a positive note, we have seen some recent ACP re-funding movement. On July 30, 2024, a bipartisan group of lawmakers in the House of Representatives introduced legislation proposing $6 billion to extend ACP. Additionally, on July 31, 2024, the Senate Commerce Committee approved advancement of the Plan for Broadband Act S.2238. The proposed Act includes $7 billion for ACP re-funding along with proposed funding for additional telecommunication projects."

Following are highlights of the quarter:

  • Despite the loss of ACP revenue, we have substantially maintained our Lifeline revenue from Q1 2024 to Q2 2024. After strengthening our balance sheet in Q1 2024 without diluting shareholders (i.e., without issuing additional shares), we have been redeploying capital to successfully accelerate our California Lifeline business where the subsidy (Federal plus California) is substantially higher, about 300%, than typical Lifeline states.

  • With substantially the worst behind us, regarding the lack of ACP re-funding, we have mostly realized the negative impact of Congress's failure to re-refund ACP. Our California Lifeline growth is beginning to replace the loss of ACP revenue. During Q2 2024, we reached a milestone, the largest number of active California Lifeline lines in the Company's history.

  • It is important to note that up to this point, our Lifeline growth has utilized our capital resources; however, in addition to our self-funded sales efforts, we are also deploying our "asset light" Lifeline expansion strategy (i.e., employing our distribution partners to cover customer acquisition costs and monthly recurring network costs). As of this release, we have already contracted with four (4) distribution partners to deploy service under our Asset Lite program.

  • While we remain hopeful Congress may re-fund ACP, we have already positioned the Company for growth across additional and expanded market segments, including California Lifeline expansion and growth within our hosted services division, supported by our private national network and CPaaS platform (i.e., SIP service, SIP service with Microsoft Teams Integration, Termination Services, wireless POTS replacement, SD-WAN, and wireless Messaging Services).

  • For example, we recently launched wireless-based wholesale POTS ("Plain Old Telephone Service") replacement service utilizing our national CPaaS network platform with deep integration to U.S. wireline and wireless carriers. We are employing a wholesale distribution strategy to support CLECs, ILECs and other resellers that are moving their legacy POTS customers to modern POTS solutions as directed by the FCC's POTS modernization objectives. There are approximately 30 million legacy POTS lines across the nation used in a variety of applications, including Elevator Call Boxes, Fax Machines, Fire & Burglar Alarms, and HVAC & Equipment Monitoring. Our wireless POTS solution provides stable, long-term recurring revenue, and so far, we have already signed six (6) wholesale POTS MSAs ("Master Service Agreements") for national distribution.