Operator results 2 - 03/02/08

Verizon Comms. posted 4Q07 net income of $1.1bn (+4%) on revenues of $23.8bn, up 5.5%. Wireline revenues fell 1% to $12.5bn. Wireless revenues grew 13% to $11.4bn. ARPU was about $51, of which $11 in data. For the year, wireless revenues reached $44bn, up 15%. Net income grew to $990m in the quarter and $3.8bn in the year.

Zain (ex MTC – Saudi Arabia) announced 2007 revenue of almost $6bn (up 32%), EBITDA of $2.6bn (up 25%), and net profit of $1.3bn (+11%).

Vodafone reports strong quarterly results, driven by solid emerging markets, mobile data operations and due to the strength of the Euro. 4Q07 revenues were up almost 16% to €12.3bn, of which revenues in EMAPA region rose by 47% to €3.4bn. Voice revenues grew less than 1% to €8.4bn, despite the negative impact of European roaming price cuts. Data revenues increased by 41.5% to €745m, thanks to 3G uptake and Mobile Connect cards. Proportionate customer number rose 10% to 252m. Vodafone has turned DSL into a major growth opportunity and now has fixed broadband operations in 11 countries, with about 3.1m DSL subscribers.

Bharti Airtel said its 4Q07 net income rose 42% to $437m, while revenues grew also by 42% to $1.8bn.