Sistema Shyam TeleServices Limited (SSTL) has posted its financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 2013 and full year 2013. The operator?s mobile subscriber base increased by 2.2 per cent quarter-on-quarter and stood at 9.8 million customers as of December 31, 2013.
Revenues in all nine operational circles grew by 5.3 per cent quarter-on-quarter.
The blended mobile average revenue per user for the quarter under review increased by 2.8 per cent and stood at Rs 97 on account of increase in minutes of usage following improved quality of its customer base.
Minutes of usage have increased by 2.9 per cent to 373 during the quarter. For the quarter under review, the share of non-voice revenues in the company?s total revenues stood at 34.5 per cent.
Non-voice revenues, from both data and mobile value added services, for the quarter increased by 5.2 per cent to reach Rs 1,030 million.
The company?s data card subscriber base for the quarter increased by 11 per cent to 1.34 million subscribers.
Revenue for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2014 declined by 23.2 per cent year-on-year to Rs 2,996 million, which was largely driven by closure of operations in a number of circles.
SSTL reported an operating income before depreciation and amortisation (OIBDA) loss of Rs 2,081 million for the quarter under review, reflecting an improvement in OIBDA margin by 25 per cent year-on-year. Margins improved on account of cost optimisation and operational efficiencies.
SSTL rolled out its 3GPLUS Telecom Network (EV-DO Rev.B Phase II) across all its circles of operations and launched the MBlaze Ultra dongle with speeds of up to 9.8Mbps.
The operator?s HSD services now cover over 550 towns across nine circles.
SSTL?s net loss during the quarter reduced by 41 per cent. The net loss declined on account of forex gains and lower interest expenses. The operator made investments worth Rs 374 million during fourth quarter ended December 2013. Debt from banks and financial institutions at the end of December 31, 2013 stood at Rs 36.93 billion.
Commenting on the results, Sergey Savchenko, chief financial officer, SSTL, said, OIBDA margins continued to improve for SSTL on the back of revenue growth and also strict control over costs. The go forward plan includes, continuing with investments in operations to drive maximum value from our 3G Plus network.?
