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Basis of Presentation (Policies)
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2026
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the financial position of Tucows and its subsidiaries as of June 30, 2026 and the results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods ended June 30, 2026 and 2025. The results of operations presented in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that may be expected for future periods.
The accompanying unaudited interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared by Tucows in conformity with the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the Company's annual audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes have been condensed or omitted.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU No. 2024-03, “Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income - Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses” (ASU 2024-03), which requires that a public entity disclose the amounts of (a) purchases of inventory, (b) employee compensation, (c) depreciation and (d) intangible asset amortization included in each relevant expense caption presented on the face of the income statement. The standard also requires an entity to disclose a qualitative description of the amounts remaining in relevant expense captions that are not separately disaggregated quantitatively as well as disclose the total amount of selling expenses and, annually, the entity’s definition of selling expenses. ASU 2024-03 will be effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2026, with either retrospective or prospective application. The standard allows for early adoption of these requirements and we are currently evaluating the disclosure impacts of our adoption.
In September 2025, FASB issued ASU 2025‑06 “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Internal-Use Software.” The amendments update the accounting model for internal-use software by eliminating the prescriptive “development-stage” framework and replacing it with a “probable-to-complete” threshold and a “significant development uncertainty” evaluation. The amendments also remove separate guidance for website development costs and require entities to apply the property, plant, and equipment disclosure requirements in Subtopic 360-10 to capitalized internal-use software. The amendments are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2027, and interim periods within those annual periods, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this ASU on its Consolidated Financial Statements and related disclosures.
Derivative Instruments and Hedging
Since October 2012, the Company has employed a hedging program with a Canadian chartered bank to limit the potential foreign exchange fluctuations incurred on its future cash flows related to a portion of payroll, taxes, rent and payments to Canadian domain name registry suppliers that are denominated in Canadian dollars and are expected to be paid by its Canadian operating subsidiary. The Company does not use hedging forward contracts for trading or speculative purposes. The foreign exchange contracts typically mature between one and twelve months.
The Company has designated certain of these foreign exchange transactions as cash flow hedges for forecasted transactions. Where the critical terms of the hedging instrument and the entire hedged forecasted transaction are the same, in accordance with ASC 815 Derivatives and Hedging ("ASC 815"), the Company concludes that changes in fair value and cash flows attributable to the risk being hedged are expected to completely offset at inception and on an ongoing basis. The Company designated the foreign exchange hedge as a cash flow hedge of expected future payments at the inception of the contract. Accordingly, for the foreign exchange contracts, unrealized gains or losses on the effective portion of these contracts were included within other comprehensive income (loss) and reclassified to earnings when the hedged transaction is settled. Cash flows from hedging activities were classified under the same category as the cash flows from the hedged items in
the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The fair value of the foreign exchange contract, as of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, is recorded as derivative instrument assets or liabilities. For certain contracts where the hedged transactions are no longer probable to occur, the loss on the associated forward contract is recognized in earnings.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Policy
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed in our acquisitions.
Intangible assets consist of acquired brand, technology, customer relationships, surname domain names, direct navigation domain names and network rights. The Company considers its intangible assets consisting of surname domain names and direct navigation domain names as indefinite life intangible assets. The Company has the exclusive right to these domain names as long as the annual renewal fees are paid to the applicable registry. Renewals occur routinely and at a nominal cost. The indefinite life intangible assets are not amortized but are subject to annual impairment assessments and more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the assets may be impaired. As part of the normal renewal evaluation process during the periods ended June 30, 2026 and June 30, 2025, the Company assessed that all domain names that were originally acquired in the June 2006 acquisition of Mailbank.com Inc. that were up for renewal, should be renewed.
Finite-life intangible assets, comprising brand, technology, customer relationships and network rights are being amortized on a straight-line basis over periods of two to fifteen years. The weighted average amortization period for all finite-life intangible assets is 2.5 years.
Revenue from Contract with Customer
Significant accounting policy
The Company’s revenues are derived from (a) the provisioning of retail fiber Internet services through Ting, (b) the CSP solutions and professional services through Wavelo; and (c) domain name registration contracts, other domain related value-added services, domain sale contracts, and other advertising revenue through Tucows Domains Services. Certain revenues are disclosed under Corporate and other as they are considered non-core business activities including retail mobile services, Transition Services Agreement ("TSA") revenue and eliminations of intercompany revenue. Amounts received in advance of meeting the revenue recognition criteria described below are recorded as contract liabilities. All products are generally sold without the right of return or refund.
Revenue is measured based on the consideration specified in a contract with a customer and excludes any sales incentives and amounts collected on behalf of third parties. The Company recognizes revenue when it satisfies a performance obligation by transferring control over a product or service to a customer.
Nature of goods and services
The following is a description of principal activities – separated by reportable segments – from which the Company generates its revenue. For more detailed information about reportable segments, see "Note 14. Segment Reporting".
(a)Ting
The Company generates Ting revenues primarily through the provisioning of fixed high-speed Internet access, and the design and construction of fiber optic network assets for a specific customer.
Ting Internet contracts provide customers Internet access at their home or business through the installation and use of our fiber optic network. Ting Internet contracts are generally prepaid and grant customers with unlimited bandwidth based on a fixed price per month basis. Because consideration is collected before the service period, revenue is initially deferred and recognized as the Company performs its obligation to provide Internet access. Though the Company does not consider the installation of fixed Internet access to be a distinct performance obligation, the fees related to installation are immaterial and therefore revenue is recognized as billed.
Ting Internet access services are primarily contracted through the Ting website, for one month at a time and contain no commitment to renew the contract following each customer’s monthly billing cycle. The Company’s billing cycle for all Ting Internet customers is computed based on the customer’s activation date. Incentive marketing credits given to customers are recorded as a reduction of revenue.
In those cases where payment is not received at the time of sale, revenue is not recognized at contract inception unless the collection of the related accounts receivable is reasonably assured. The Company records expected refunds, rebates and credit card charge-backs as a reduction of revenues at the time of the sale based on historical experiences and current expectations.
Our construction services relate to revenue earned from the design, construction and installation of a fiber optic network for a specific customer contract. Control of the network infrastructure transfers to the customer as it is constructed.
Revenue from network construction is recognized over time, as Ting’s performance creates or enhances an asset that the customer controls as it is being constructed. Progress toward completion is measured using an output method, based primarily on network build milestones such as served addresses completed and accepted by the customer. Amounts billed in advance of revenue recognition are recorded as contract liabilities, while amounts recognized in excess of billings are recorded as contract assets.
The Company has determined that it acts as principal in providing construction services, as it is primarily responsible for fulfilling the contract, controls construction inputs, and bears the risk associated with design, materials procurement, and subcontracted construction activities. Accordingly, construction revenue is recognized on a gross basis.
(b)Wavelo
The Company generates Wavelo revenues by providing billing and provisioning platform services to CSPs to whom we also provide other professional services.
Platform service agreements contain both platform services and professional services. Platform services offer a variety of solutions that support CSPs, including subscription and billing management, network orchestration and provisioning, and individual developer tools through a single, cloud-based service. Professional services provided under platform service arrangements can include implementation, training, consulting or software development/modification services. Platform services and professional services are considered to be separate performance obligations.
Consideration under platform service arrangements includes both a variable component that changes each month depending on the number of subscribers hosted on the platform, as well as a fixed component of platform payments and credits.
Platform payments and associated credits are allocated between the platform services and professional services performance obligations by estimating the standalone selling price (“SSP”) of each performance obligation.
The Company estimates the SSP of professional services based on observable standalone sales. The SSP of platform services is derived using the residual approach by estimating the total contract consideration and subtracting the SSP of professional services.
Each month of providing access to the platform is substantially the same and the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits as access is provided, therefore, the performance obligation consists of a series of distinct service periods. Accordingly, the platform services represent a single promise to provide continuous access (i.e. a stand-ready performance obligation) to the platform. Accordingly, the platform payment revenue allocated to platform services is recognized evenly over the term of the contract. Variable subscriber fees are allocated to the platform services and are recognized as the fees are invoiced.
Revenues related to professional services are distinct from the other promises in the contract(s) and are recognized as the related services are performed, on the basis of hours consumed.
Other professional services consist of professional service arrangements with platform services customers which are billed based on separate Statement of Work (“SOW”) arrangements for bespoke feature development. Revenues for professional services contracted through separate SOWs are recognized at a point-in-time when the final acceptance criteria have been met.
(c)Tucows Domains
The Company generates Tucows Domains revenues primarily through Wholesale Domains Services, Wholesale Value Added Services and Retail.
Wholesale Domains Services comprise Domain registration services provided to resellers, Tucows Registry Services and WHOIS Privacy Services.
Wholesale Value Added Services comprise Domain-related value-added services provided to resellers, as well as expiry and advertising revenue streams.
Retail services comprise Domain registration contracts provided to retail customers along with related email and WHOIS privacy services.
The Company is an ICANN accredited registrar. The Company is the primary obligor with our reseller and retail registrant customers and is responsible for the fulfillment of our registrar services to those parties. As a result, the Company reports revenue in the amount of the fees we receive directly from our reseller and retail registrant customers. Our reseller customers maintain the primary obligor relationship with their retail customers, establish pricing and retain credit risk to those customers. Accordingly, the Company does not recognize any revenue related to transactions between our reseller customers and their ultimate retail customers.
Domain registration and WHOIS Privacy Services
Domain registration contracts, which can be purchased for terms of one to ten years, provide our resellers and retail registrant customers with the exclusive right to a personalized internet address from which to build an online presence. The Company enters into domain registration contracts in connection with each new, renewed and transferred-in domain registration. At the inception of the contract, the Company charges and collects the registration fee for the entire registration period. Though fees are collected upfront, revenue from domain registrations are recognized ratably over the registration period as domain registration contracts contain a ‘right to access’ license of IP, which is a distinct performance obligation measured over time. The registration period begins once the Company has confirmed that the requested domain name has been appropriately recorded in the registry under contractual performance standards.
WHOIS Privacy is an ongoing service that protects the personal information of Registrants from public access.
Tucows Registry Services
Tucows Registry Services (“TRS”) provides registry platform and related technical services to operators of generic top-level domains (“gTLDs”), branded top-level domains, and country code top-level domains. These services include processing domain name transactions and maintaining the related infrastructure and support systems required to operate the registry. Revenue is primarily transaction-based and is calculated as a fixed fee per financial transaction processed during the month. Because customers simultaneously receive and consume the benefits of the registry services as they are provided, revenue is recognized in the period in which the transactions occur. Service level credits are treated as variable consideration and are recorded as a reduction of revenue in the period in which they are incurred.
Value Added Services
Domain related value-added services like digital certifications and hosted email provide our resellers and retail registrant customers with tools and additional functionality to be used in conjunction with domain registrations. All domain related value-added services are considered distinct performance obligations which transfer the promised service to the customer over the contracted term. Fees charged to customers for domain related value-added services are collected at the inception of the contract, and revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis over the contracted term, consistent with the satisfaction of the performance obligations.
Expiry
The Company also sells the rights to the Company’s portfolio domains or names acquired through the Company’s domain expiry stream. The domain expiry stream involves domain names whose registration has expired and as per ICANN regulations are placed into a 40-day grace period. Though the domain names do not belong to the registrant during the 40-day grace period, the Company is restricted from allowing others to register them. The Company monetizes its domain expiry stream both through the sale of names and by allowing advertisers to place parked pages advertisements on the domains. Revenue from the sale of domain-name rights through the domain expiry stream is recognized at a point in time when control of the domain-name rights is transferred to the customer.
Advertising
Advertising revenue is derived through domain parking monetization, whereby the Company contracts with third-party Internet advertising publishers to direct web traffic from the Company’s domain expiry stream domains, surname domains and direct navigation domains to advertising websites. Compensation from Internet advertising publishers is calculated variably on a cost-per-action basis based on the number of advertising links that have been visited in a given month. Given that the variable consideration is calculated and paid on a monthly basis, no estimation of variable consideration is required.
Contract Balances
The following table provides information about contract liabilities from contracts with customers. The Company accounts for contract assets and liabilities on a contract-by-contract basis, with each contract presented as either a net contract asset or a net contract liability accordingly.
Some of the Company’s long-term contracts with customers are billed in advance of service, such as domain contracts and some professional service contracts. Consideration received from customers related to performance obligations which have not yet been satisfied are recorded as contract liabilities.
Fair Value Measurement, Policy
For financial assets and liabilities recorded in our financial statements at fair value we utilize a valuation hierarchy for disclosure of the inputs to valuation used to measure fair value. This hierarchy prioritizes the inputs into three broad levels. Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 inputs are quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly through market corroboration, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs based on the Company’s own assumptions used to measure assets and liabilities at fair value. The classification of a financial asset or liability within the hierarchy is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
Equity investments without readily determinable fair value include ownership rights that do not provide the Company with control or significant influence. Such equity investments are recorded at cost, less any impairment, and adjusted for subsequent observable price changes as of the date that an observable transaction takes place. Subsequent adjustments are recorded in other income (expense), net.