Sprint Nextel continues postpaid subscriber loss in Q4
Telecompaper writes…US mobile operator Sprint Nextel reported fourth-quarter revenues of USD 10.444 billion, up 7 percent from USD 9.792 billion a year earlier. OIBDA, excluding extraordinary items, rose 13 percent to USD 3.169 billion, and net profit came in at USD 261 million versus USD 5 million a year ago. The company finished the year with 53.074 million mobile customers, after adding a net 741,000 in the fourth quarter. That included a Q4 loss of 306,000 postpaid customers, offset by growth in prepaid and wholesale affiliates. Average revenue per user also showed a small drop versus the third quarter both for postpaid and prepaid customers. Capital sepnding was up 47 percent form a year ago to USD 2.612 billion as the company invested in new wireless technologies. Sprint reiterated its earlier guidance for 2007 for flat revenues of USD 41-42 billion and adjusted OIBDA falling to USD 11.0-11.5 billion, while it lowered its capex forecast to USD 8.0 billion from USD 8.5 billion after accelerating spending Q4.
