NTT DoCoMo net profit soars 37%, upholds forecast (Japan)
NTT DoCoMo has posted a 37% rise in net profit for its fiscal second quarter ended 30 September on lower handset subsidies and buying costs, and maintained its full-year profit forecast. According to a media report, DoCoMo’s profit increase comes in the wake of its November 2007 decision to introduce a new business model that cut handset subsidies and locked customers in on longer plans, albeit with the fillip of instalment payment plans.
The other contenders in Japan’s mobile market, KDDI and Softbank have introduced similar business models. KDDI posted a rise of 27% in its quarterly profit for the three months to 30 September. Softbank said profit in the period augmented 7% year-on-year. DoCoMo noted that with the introduction of new strategy, handset sales have been shrinked and cut its sales and profits targets accordingly. Operating Profit in the period grows to JPY280.5 billion from JPY204.6 billion a year earlier, although revenues slipped 4% to JPY1.1 trillion. The telco forecasted the operating profit of JPY830 billion for the full year to 31 March 2009.
MTN totals its subscriber base to 80.7 Mn in Q3’08 (South Africa)
MTN Group overall subscriber base reaches to the mark of 80.7 million, increased 9% q-on-q. The majority of the group’s total subscribers have been contributed by West and Central Africa (WECA) region and augmented its subscriber base by 10% in the third quarter with 56% of the region’s subscribers coming from Nigeria where the operator saw a 9% increase in customers. The South and East Africa (SEA) reports a 7% increase in subscriber base during the quarter accounts for 28% of the Group’s total subscribers. However, South Africa adds on 72% to the region’s subscribers, with its base growing 4% to 16.2 million in this quarter. The rest 28% have been contributed by Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The MENA region experienced a 10% boost in subscriber base, led by Iran where subscribers increased by 13%.
