UK mobile-phone operator mmO2 has produced robust half-year
results, with growth in both its service revenue and customer base,
as it marked its first year since separation from BT.
The company posted a post-tax loss of £277m as of 30 September,
against a loss of £387m last year.
Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation grew
to £378m, compared with £135m the year before. Total revenue grew
by 11.5% in the six-month period to £2.34bn, from £2.09bn in the
same period last year.
The operator attributed the revenue increase to growth in its
customer base in both the UK and Germany.
MmO2's total customer base grew by 8.9% in the period to 18.3
million, while revenue from services were up by 16.3% to £2.09bn.
Data revenue accounted for 15.6% of service revenue in the second
quarter and 14.6% in the first quarter.
The company predicted that by the end of 2004, 25% of group revenue
would come from data services.
Net debt at the group fell to £609m at the end of September,
compared with £617m at the end of March.
The mobile operator, which owns networks in the UK, Germany, the
Netherlands and Ireland, plans to increase its investment in its
third-generation (3G) network this year and is aiming to launch 3G
services in the second half of next year.
The company predicted continued "strong performance" for the full
year with further growth in the German market in particular. It
noted, however, that the UK mobile market remained "challenging"
and warned that future revenue could be affected by an impending
ruling from the Competition Commission, which is looking at the
cost of calls made between rival network operators.