An increase in mobile users of almost 10% to 128.8 million
helpedFrance
Telecomincrease its subscriber base to 189.1 million,
up 6.6% year on year September 2009. Revenues were flat at €38.1bn
for the first nine months of 2009.
France Telecom has had a nightmare year. Last week it said it
would
spend up to €1bn to restore morale following the
suicide of two dozen employees in the wake of aggressive
restructuring.
The recession has not helped either, making it hard to find
profits. Profits in Africa and the Middle East rose 5.2%, but
Romania crashed 18.1%, and the normally profitable Enterprise
segment was down 2.8% year-on-year.
Earnings before interest, tax and depreciation were down
slightly to 35.1%, down 0.7 points on a year ago, helping to cut
capital spending 1.8% to 9.8% of revenues. The telco confirmed its
advice on cash flow, which should be steady at €8.0bn, it said.
CEO Didier Lombard said revenues from France were up 0.6% and
the take-up of new services continued to spread, particularly those
related to 3G and digital TV offers.
"We are currently in negotiations with trade unions on a new
social contract that will be proposed to employees and will form an
integral part of the group's development in France," he said.