Norway-based operator, Telenor has posted financial results for the first quarter of 2014. The operator?s first quarter revenues grew by 7.3 per cent to NOK 26,515 million, while its profit grew by 2 per cent and stood at NOK 3,676 million. Further, for the quarter under review, Telenor?s capex on telecom infrastructure increased by 29 per cent to NOK 3,694 million.
For the period under review, Telenor Asia?s revenue contribution stood at45 per cent revenue. Further, the market accounted for 46 per cent share in terms of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA). Europe contribution to total revenues and EBITDA stood at 24 per cent and 21 per respectively while and Norway?s contribution to revenues and EBITDA stood at 24 per cent and 30 per cent.
The operator also added 6 million new mobile subscribers in the first quarter of 2014. The growth was mainly driven by markets including India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
For the quarter under review, Telenor?s performance in major market was as follows –
India
Uninor, the subsidiary of Telenor in India, added 2.5 million new mobile subscribers in the first quarter of 2014. It achieved 13 per cent organic growth in average revenue per user (ARPU) which stood at Rs 106. However, the operator?s ARPU did not grow in comparison to fourth quarter of 2013. Further, Uninor reported 44 per cent organic growth in its India revenue and its EBITDA stood at 55.2 per cent. Further, for the quarter under review, the company added 1,036 new telecom sites. Uninor?s net debt stood at NOK 741 million and its capex investment stood at NOK 117 million.
Norway
Due to increasing demand for data, Telenor Norway?s has posted more than three per cent growth in its mobile data revenues. The operator?s total capex in the first quarter of 2014 stood at NOK 1,048 million.
Thailand
In the first quarter of 2014, the operator migrated 60 per cent of its customers to new 3G network in Thailand. The operator?s capex in the country stood at NOK 554 million.
Capex guidance
Telenor is focused on maintaining capex to sales ratio in all the global markets at 16 percent for 2014.
In the first quarter of 2014, Telenor?s capex for markets other than India, Norway and Myanmar stood at NOK 554 million (Thailand), NOK 372 million (Malaysia), NOK 217 million (Bangladesh), NOK 202 million (Pakistan), NOK 269 million (Sweden), NOK 144 million (Denmark), NOK 54 million (Hungary), NOK 60 million (Montenegro and Serbia), NOK 49 million (Bulgaria)
