Operator results - 23/03/07

China Mobile reports strong 4Q06 results with net profit rising 20% to $2.6bn, on revenues of $ , of which more than 23% from data revenues. The results is significant as half of its customer growth (53m in 2006) came from China's lower-spending rural areas. Full year results are very good also: net earnings rose to $8.5bn, up 23%, on revenues of $38bn, up 21%.

MTS (Russia) earned $280m (+15%) in 4Q06, on revenues of $1.8bn, up 36%. For the year, revenues were $6.4bn, up 27%, and net income rose 11% to $1.25bn.