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Resilient Optus are on the up with revenue rising 2% to $2.42 billion.
Net profit for the No.2 telco grew 4% to $1.77bn for the third quarter to December 31 and added 182,000 new customers during the three month period.
And like Telstra, who last week also announced massive new additions to its mobile base – to the tune of almost 1 million – Optus mobile growth momentum has continued, with the total customer base nearing 10m, compared to Telstra’s 13.2 m users.
Prepaid users on Optus grew by 69,000, while adding (net) new users 113,000 on postpaid (compared to Telstra’s 338K postpaid additions). Its total mobile base now stands at 9.42 million, Optus said today.
This puts arch rival Telstra ahead in the mobile race by less than 3 million, who added 958,000 new mobile users in six months to December last (phones and mobile broadband).
It thus appears Optus’ hike in mobile numbers came at the expense of network troubled Vodafone, as opposed to Telstra, who’s numbers continue to grow.
Optus’ 3G users grew to 6.24 million, a 5% increase from three months earlier, and includes 1.55m wireless broadband subscribers – an increase of 94,000 -while fixed line “on-net” broadband users totalled 965,000 -a fall of 7000 users compared to previous quarter.
Optus’ average revenue per user on broadband also fell 5% due to increased data inclusions in its customer packages.
Optus total mobile revenue rose 4% to A$1.62 billion, with service revenue also growing 2%.
Singtel owned Optus also referred to its other mobile products launched last year including Optus TV Now, which it recently won a legal challenge against Telstra, NRL and AFL, and Go Places , and its “unique” TV and Video app for exclusive streaming of the Australian Open 2012.
“Optus delivered another quarter of revenue and EBITDA growth, adding 182,000 mobile customers, in spite of the intensely competitive Australian telecommunications market,” said Mr Paul O’Sullivan, Optus CEO.
“Optus continued to lead the market with new, relevant and personalised digital services while making improvements in customer experience.”
Earnings before tax also increased 3% to A$562 million over Q3, attributed to increased service revenue and lower customer acquisition costs on new postpaid price plans launched in the quarter.
However, the same can’t be said for the SingTel group includes its international divisions in Singapore and Asia, which saw 10% drop in net profit attributed to “higher customer acquisition costs and weaker contribution from India.”
Service revenue grew strongly at 18 per cent, due to customer growth, increased SMS and voice revenue.
On the LTE front, which rival Telstra has already unleashed, Optus said it has commenced rolling-out its Open Network, connected Australia’s first LTE data call on the 700MHz “Digital Dividend” spectrum band in November and will deliver first services to NSW areas including: Newcastle, Port Stephens, the Hunter Valley and Lake Macquarie in April.
A capital city roll-out will begin in the second half of 2012, phase one will hit Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, and phase two to other capital cities.
In Business and Wholesale fixed, earnings were stable with “strong” satellite and ICT and managed services revenue was offset by lower income from voice and data and IP, which declined 3 per cent
ICT and managed services grew 10 per cent due to corporate wins.
Satellite revenue rose 10 per cent driven largely by revenue from the new NBN Interim Satellite Service contract.
Shares rose 1.31% this afternoon to $2.32 following the results announcement.
