Onul E&M Achieves Export-Oriented Transformation Centered on North America... Anticipates 'Quantum Leap' in 5G Equipment Sales

KOSDAQ-listed company Onul E&M has reorganized its 5G telecommunications equipment business to focus on North American exports, establishing a foundation for performance growth. The company plans to make a significant leap forward this year, with a particular focus on the U.S. market.

On April 1, Onul E&M announced through its annual business report that its consolidated sales reached approximately 16.7 billion won last year, a 28.2% increase from approximately 13 billion won the previous year. Growth in the North American market was particularly notable. Sales in the region surged by more than 190% year-on-year, driving the overall expansion of the business. The core 5G telecommunications equipment division also achieved a turnaround, posting an operating profit of about 2.9 billion won.

The business structure has also undergone significant changes. The proportion of overseas sales, which stood at 33.6% in 2024, rose to about 66% last year, completing a full transition to an export-oriented structure. Of last year’s overseas sales of approximately 11 billion won, the North American region accounted for about 9.6 billion won, representing 87.4% of overseas sales and solidifying its position as the core market.

The company expects the growth trend in the North American market to accelerate further this year. This is due to U.S. telecom operator AT&T’s announcement of a next-generation communications infrastructure investment worth around $250 billion, which is expected to trigger a major cycle in the telecommunications equipment market. Recently, the global deployment of 5G infrastructure has been shifting towards small cell antennas to resolve data bottlenecks, leading to a rapid increase in demand for related equipment.

In this environment, Onul E&M is emerging as a key beneficiary based on its partnership with AT&T. Its U.S. subsidiary, Theta, has already established itself as a core supplier for AT&T’s small cell deployment project.

According to an AT&T report, Onul E&M ranked first in the fourth quarter of last year with a 45% market share for small cell antenna supply and ranked second annually with a 38% market share. In fact, 71% of last year’s North American sales were generated through AT&T, demonstrating the solid partnership between the two companies.

Additionally, as the policy of excluding Chinese-made telecommunications equipment in the U.S. strengthens, Onul E&M’s market position, backed by its proven technology and supply record, is expected to become even stronger.

A company representative stated, “Having established ourselves as a key supplier through a long-standing partnership with AT&T, we expect to directly benefit from the large-scale investments and the shift away from Chinese suppliers that will accelerate this year. Leveraging a favorable market environment, we will maximize 5G business achievements and significantly enhance corporate value by expanding into 6G and satellite communications in the future.”

Meanwhile, Onul E&M plans to hold an offline IR session for institutional and individual investors at the Hyurim Building in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on April 9. The session will cover the current status of the 5G antenna business as well as discuss new business strategies in iGaming as key agenda items.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.