www.WirelessFederation.com/news: MTN, the South African mobile operator, has reportedly announced a hike of 30.6% year-on-year in its H1′09 net profits to ZAR9.09 billion (USD1.16 billion). Revenues for the six months ended 30 June totalled ZAR57.27 billion, up 24% from ZAR46.13 billion a year earlier. EBITDA for the operator was up 25% year-on-year, to reach ZAR24.5 billion at June 2009 – end. Operating expenses for the period grew to ZAR8.06 billion, up from ZAR5.89 billion a year earlier. The operator added 29.2 million new subscribers in last twelve months ending June with 103.2 million mobile subscribers.
On 08.28.09, In Mobile, By Editor
On 08.27.09, In Mobile, By Editor
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Orascom Telecom, the Egyptian mobile operator has reportedly posted a 38% rise in quaterly net profits to $111.8 million. The operator ended the quarter with more than 84 million mobile subscribers, up from 80 million at March end.
Blended ARPU stood at $6.0 in Q2′09 compared to $5.8 in Q1′09.
On 08.20.09, In Mobile, By Editor
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: China Mobile, world’s largest mobile operator by subscribers, has reported a drop of 1.6% in Q2′09 profits driven by slow economy, weak 3G rollout and rising competition. The operator is in competition with smaller rivals China Unicom and China Telecom which offer full range of services since last year’s restructuring process. These operators are aggressively entering the rural market as the urban market faces saturation.
China Mobile’s Q2′09 net profit stood at 30.1 billion yuan ($4.4 billion) as compared to 30.6 billion yuan in Q2′08.
On 08.17.09, In Mobile, By Editor
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: mCel, the Mozambique based mobile operator, has reported net profit of MZN548 million (USD20.76 million) for 2008, up 58% year-on-year from MZN348 million in 2007. mCel CEO Gomes Zita said: ‘With the exception of the 2004 financial year, when net profits of MZN660 million were posted due to currency exchange gains, 2008 was our most successful term in the last five years.’
The revenues for the telco grew from MZN5.83 billion in 2007 to MZN7.09 billion in 2008. The operator’s mobile subscriber base rose by 36% to 3.1 million compared to just over 2.3 million at the end of 2007. The company estimates that its market share at the end of 2008 stood at 69%, up 3% year-on-year.
On 08.16.09, In Mobile, By Editor
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Qtel, the Qatari mobile operator, has posted Q2′09 net profits of 1.044 billion riyals, up 58.6% from Q2′08. The total revenue for the operator for Q2′09 rose to 4.230 billion riyals compared to 1.644 billion in Q2′08, the firm reportedly revealed.
On 08.13.09, In Mobile, By Editor
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Wataniya, the Kuwaiti mobile operator, has reported a rise of 139.6% in its Q2′09 net profits to 63.5 million dinars ($221.2 million).
Earnings per share rose to 126.74 fils compared to 52.97 fils in Q2′08. The H1′09 profits hiked to 78.8 million dinars from 42.58 million dinars in H1′08.
On 08.07.09, In Mobile, By Editor
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Leap Wireless International, Inc. (NASDAQ: LEAP), a leading provider of innovative and value-driven wireless communications services, today reported financial and operational results for the quarter ended June 30, 2009. Service revenues for the second quarter increased 30 percent over the prior year quarter to $541.6 million. The Company reported adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization (OIBDA) of $137.8 million for the second quarter of 2009, an increase of approximately $31.1 million, or 29 percent, over the prior year period. Adjusted OIBDA for the Company’s existing business was $191.5 million, an increase of approximately $37 million, or 24 percent, over the prior year period. Operating income for the second quarter of 2009 was $26.3 million, compared to operating income of $14.5 million for the second quarter of 2008, an increase of $11.8 million, or approximately 81 percent.
The Company reported approximately 203,000 net customer additions, an increase of 19 percent from the second quarter of 2008. Second quarter customer additions included approximately 184,000 net voice additions in the Company’s expansion markets (those markets that launched service after December 31, 2007); a net loss of approximately 25,000 voice customers in the Company’s existing markets (those markets in operation prior to December 31, 2007); and approximately 44,000 net broadband additions. Churn for the quarter was 4.4 percent.
On 08.07.09, In Mobile, By Editor
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: United States Cellular Corporation reported service revenues of $974.8 million for the second quarter of 2009, a 1 percent decrease from $987.4 million in the comparable period one year ago, due to a $22.0 million reduction in inbound roaming revenues related primarily to the acquisition of Alltel Corporation by Verizon Wireless. U.S. Cellular recorded operating income of $140.9 million, a 20 percent increase from $117.9 million in the second quarter of 2008. Net income attributable to U.S. Cellular and related diluted earnings per share were $83.4 million and $0.96, respectively, for the second quarter of 2009, compared to $72.6 million and $0.83, respectively, in the comparable period one year ago.
“U.S. Cellular had a net loss in retail customers for the second quarter,” said John E. Rooney, U.S. Cellular president and CEO, “due to the combined effect of the weak economy and very competitive market conditions. The launch of the latest iPhone and other exclusive handsets was a factor, as was the increased presence and competitiveness of low-priced, prepaid service providers in some of our markets. Customers have responded well, however, to the new national plans we introduced late in the quarter, and to our industry-first Battery Swap program, which meets a widespread customer need.
“Despite the challenges we faced in the quarter,” continued Rooney, “we achieved solid financial results, with increased operating income and operating cash flow. After adjusting for a decline in roaming revenues that resulted from Verizon’s acquisition of Alltel, service revenues increased slightly, due to continued growth in demand for data services. In fact, data revenues grew 31 percent and now represent 17 percent of service revenues. We expect this growth to continue, as we bring our 3G network — which now covers 40 percent of our customer base — to 70 percent of our customers by year end. We have also implemented additional cost controls to ensure ongoing funding for important multi-year initiatives designed to promote online sales and enhance our billing and customer relationship management capabilities.”
On 08.07.09, In Mobile, By Editor
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: KT Corp has reported tripled net profit for the Q2′09 to KRW456.1 billion (USD372 million), up 184% from KRW160.5 billion in Q2′08. The growth is driven by large increase to narrower foreign-exchange related losses and reduced marketing costs. Operating profit for Q2 dipped by 1.1% year-on-year to KRW363.5 billion from KRW367.6 billion, due to a drop in revenue from fixed line operations and broadband internet services.
KT reported that with the contribution of its mobile unit in the second quarter of 2008, and the full quarter this year, its combined net profit would have been KRW504.2 billion, up from KRW146.3 billion in 2008, while operating profit would have risen 50% to KRW483.4 billion from KRW322.4 billion.
Its reported sales rose 17.7% to KRW3.564 trillion from KRW3.029 trillion in the same period of 2008. With the mobile unit included sales would have fallen 2.7% to KRW4.87 trillion from KRW5.01 trillion.
On 08.07.09, In Mobile, By Editor
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: MetroPCS Communications, Inc. (NYSE: PCS), the nation’s leading provider of unlimited, flat-rate wireless communications service, today announced financial and operational results for the quarter ended June 30, 2009. MetroPCS reported quarterly growth in Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of 11% and finished the second quarter with approximately 6.3 million subscribers.
“During the quarter we focused on increasing brand awareness and delivering value to our subscribers. With our continued subscriber growth, we are now the fifth largest facilities-based wireless carrier and the largest regional facilities-based wireless carrier in the U.S. On a consolidated basis, we reported the highest Adjusted EBITDA in company history and, across all our markets we saw strong gross additions during the quarter. Although we experienced an increase in churn during the second quarter, this was due in part to our success in delivering increased gross additions over the previous nine months, seasonality and handset upgrades from customers who did not identify themselves as existing customers,” said Roger D. Linquist, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of MetroPCS.
“After a full quarter of Northeast Market results, we are pleased with this segment’s performance, highlighted by net subscriber additions of approximately 193 thousand during the second quarter. We continue to buildout and expand our network and increase distribution in parts of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Connecticut, significantly enhancing our footprint beyond the initial launch footprint.
“We also are very excited about the launch of our unprecedented unlimited international calling plan introduced late in the second quarter. This service is another example of MetroPCS’ commitment to providing industry-leading value to consumers. Most recently, we expanded our leadership position in providing affordable, and valuable unlimited wireless service with the evolution of our rate plans. While challenging economic conditions persist, we continue to invest in differentiation and we are bullish on the growth opportunity within pay-in-advance unlimited wireless. With 36% subscriber growth over the past year, we are confident our growth will continue. As a result, we have today reaffirmed our full year 2009 guidance,” Linquist concluded.