The effective rate per minute remained stable compared to Q3 with promotional offers offsetting headline price increases. EBITDA grew by 22.9% driven by the increase in revenue and economies of scale, partially offset by higher customer acquisition costs and increased interconnection costs.
There was a minor quarterly in messaging revenue – Messaging revenue was at GBP 51 million, an increase of 4.08% compared to last quarter’s revenue of GBP 49 million. This growth also benefited from mobile operators starting to charge for SMS termination during the second quarter of the 2012 financial year.
The company’s data revenue also increased to GBP 88 million, up 6.02% QoQ. Messaging and data contributed around 13% to the company’s service revenue. The company has stated that it had 35.4 million data customers at the end of 31st March 2012, up 81.5% year on year. 3G was available to Vodafone customers in 860 towns and cities across 20 circles at the end of the quarter.
On an annual basis, Vodafone’s India services revenues were at GBP 4215 million, an increase of 10.80%. There was a minor 6.97% increase in voice revenue but data revenue was up by 40.49%.
- ARPU: Vodafone India’s (blended) ARPU increased quarter on quarter at Rs 179 from Rs 173 in the previous quarter.
- PostPaid: Postpaid ARPU marginally decreased to Rs 735 quarter on quarter, from 738. Prepaid ARPU picked up from Rs 145 to Rs 151 during the quarter.
- Churn: Postpaid churn decreased to 19.5%, while prepaid churn grew to 80.8%. Please keep in mind that Vodafone accounts for churn over four consecutive quarters.
- Minutes of Use: increased to 142.12 billion from 133.2 billion, even though there was a price hike.
- Tax Case & Retrospective Taxing: On 20 January 2012 the Group received a favourable judgment from the Indian Supreme Court in respect of the tax case regarding the acquisition of Vodafone India Limited in 2007. The Court concluded that Vodafone had no liability to account for withholding tax on its acquisition of interests in Hutchison Essar Limited (now Vodafone India Limited) in 2007.
However on 16 March 2012 the Indian Government, through its budget announcement, proposed new retrospective tax legislation, which, if enacted, would countermand the verdict of the Indian Supreme Court and impose tax, interest from 2007 and, potentially, penalties on Vodafone International Holdings B.V (‘VIHBV’), notwithstanding the verdict of the Indian Supreme Court. On 17 April 2012 Vodafone served the Indian Government with a Notice of Dispute regarding the proposals, which are included in the Indian Finance Bill 2012, which Vodafone believes violate the international legal protection granted to Vodafone under the Bilateral Investment Treaty between India and the Netherlands. According to Vodafone, the action of the Indian government in introducing this retrospective legislation introduces substantial uncertainty, and there can be no assurance that any outcome will be favourable to Vodafone International Holdings or the Group. The Group did not carry any provision in respect of the India tax case at 31 March 2012 or at previous reporting dates.
- Option Agreement with Piramal: The agreements with Piramal in respect of its 11% shareholding in Vodafone India Limited (‘VIL’) contemplate various exit mechanisms for Piramal including participating in an initial public offering by Vodafone or, if such initial public offering is not completed by 18 August 2013 or 8 February 2014, respectively, or if Piramal chooses not to participate in such initial public offering, Piramal can sell its shareholding to Vodafone Group in two tranches of 5.485% for an aggregate price of between approximately Rs 70 billion (£0.8 billion) and Rs 83 billion (£1.0 billion).
On 4 February 2012 Vodafone had announced that Piramal Healthcare (‘Piramal’) had agreed to purchase approximately 5.5% of the issued equity share capital of Vodafone India Limited (‘VIL’) from ETHL Communications Holdings Limited for a cash consideration of approximately INR 30.1 billion (£385 million) taking Piramal’s total shareholding in VIL to approximately 11%.
Popularity: 1% [?]
Vodafone Scoops £46 Billion Revenue, But Profit Down - Itproportal
European revenue also slipped slightly
Vodafone has announced its annual results for the fiscal year which ended on the 31st of March, with global revenue up 1.2 per cent year-on-year to £46.4 billion.
However, the firm's European revenue faltered, down 0.6 per cent to just a whisker under £30 billion. The Eurozone crisis hasn't helped the company.
Vodafone's adjusted operating profit came in at £11.5 billion, which was 2.4 per cent down on the previous year.
However, Vodafone noted the strength in Verizon Wireless, with service revenue up 7.3 per cent, and Voda's share of those profits was 9.3 per cent, which amounted to almost £5 billion.
Vodafone also stated that it had a free cash flow of some £6.1 billion.
Looking to fiscal 2013, the operator reckons that its adjusted operating profit will be around £11.1 to £11.9 billion, reflecting the weaker Euro, with cash flow expected to decrease to around £5.3 to £5.8 billion.
Vittorio Colao, Group Chief Executive, said: "Our focus on the key growth areas of data, emerging markets and enterprise is positioning us well in a difficult macroeconomic environment."
"Our commercial performance and our ability to leverage scale continue to be strong, enabling us to gain or hold market share in most of our key markets, and reduce the rate of margin decline. Our robust cash generation and the dividend received from Verizon Wireless have enabled us to translate this operational success into good returns for shareholders."
Vodafone Ireland invests €120m in network upgrade - Silicon Republic
The company said its network was measured to be the fastest by Metrico, when compared with other mobile operators across 55 test locations in Dublin, Limerick, Waterford, Cork and Galway.
Average blended monthly ARPU fell 3.4pc to €31.20 for the quarter ended 31 March.
The company said the number of smartphones on its network were up 59pc year on year.
Some 37.7pc of its mobile customers now carry smartphones.
Its total customer base at the end of March was 2.46m subscriptions, of which 2.2m were mobile subscribers. Its total customer base grew 1.7pc year on year.
The company said it had more than 1.05m mobile internet subscribers, up 14pc on last year.
During the quarter, Vodafone launched its HD Voice service and launched its Vodafone One Net unified comms solution for businesses.
Vodafone added that fixed-line and DSL customer numbers increased 10.3pc year on year to 239,600.
Smartphone penetration in Europe
Globally, Vodafone Group said revenues rose 1.4pc to stg46.4bn for the year ended 31 March.
CEO Vittorio Calao said the company had free cash flow of stg6.1bn after capital expenditure of stg6.4bn.
He said smartphone penetration in Europe was now 26.9pc, up 8.3pc year-on-year.
“Our focus on the key growth areas of data, emerging markets and enterprise is positioning us well in a difficult macroeconomic environment. Our commercial performance and our ability to leverage scale continue to be strong, enabling us to gain or hold market share in most of our key markets, and reduce the rate of margin decline.
“Our robust cash generation and the dividend received from Verizon Wireless have enabled us to translate this operational success into good returns for shareholders.
“Our goal over the next three years is to continue to strengthen our technology and commercial platforms through reliable and secure high-speed data networks, significantly enhanced customer service across all channels, and improved data pricing models, to enrich customers' experience and maximise our share of value in the markets in which we operate," Calao said.
John Kennedy 
| 
|
T-Mobile Preps Software Update T989UVLDE for Galaxy S II - Softpedia
Unfortunately, the new software update does not come with the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich platform inside, although users were certainly waiting for that.
Instead, the update is based on the Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread operating system version, the wireless carrier announced.
The new software for T-Mobile’s Galaxy S II was approved on Monday, May 21st, and it will be delivered to users over the air. It weighs 32.3 MB.
“Beginning May 21, the Samsung Galaxy S II will receive a necessary software update to Android version 2.3.6 / Software T989UVLDE to improve performance, stability and a Google Security fix,” T-Mobile notes on its support website.“The software update will be available OTA. The update will continue until June 22,” the wireless carrier continues.
Although only a maintenance update, the new firmware for Galaxy S II still brings along fixes and improvements that users will certainly appreciate.
The release notes for the new software include:
- Random reboot/power off fixed
- Device stability improvements
- Qualcomm chip patch
- Google Security fixes
To install this update, users need to have the previously released T989UVKL1 software version installed on their devices (this update was released in December last year).
Before proceeding with the installation, Galaxy S II owners should make sure that their handsets have at least 50 percent of battery life. They should also perform a backup of all data on the device.
As soon as the update is available for them, T-Mobile customers will receive a notification on the matter. They can either choose to download and install the update immediately, or they can postpone the update for later.
Specific info on how to perform the update can be found on the wireless carrier’s support website via this link.
Vodafone profit falls, hit by southern Europe woes - My Fox Boston
Source: Dow Jones
LONDON -- Vodafone Group, the world's biggest mobile operator by revenue, reported Tuesday a fall in net profit, hurt by charges related to its businesses in recession-hit southern Europe, and warned that the economic environment in Europe -- by far its biggest market -- will remain difficult.Vodafone posted a 13 percent fall in net profit to £6.96 billion ($11 billion) for the year ended March 31, from £7.97 billion a year earlier. The year-earlier result included a £6.15 billion impairment due to the economic troubles in southern Europe but also included contributions from sold businesses SFR and Polkomtel.
Annual revenue rose 1.2 percent to £46.42 billion, ahead of expectations of £46.2 billion. That compares with £45.88 billion a year earlier.
With revenue from traditional fixed line calls under pressure from free internet services like Microsoft's Skype and WhatsApp messaging system, the company is focused on boosting the revenue it gets from the boom in customers downloading information onto internet-surfing smartphones such as Apple's iPhone and Samsung Electronics' Galaxy handsets.
Data revenue rose 22 percent on a comparable basis as customers with smartphones reached 45 percent. Emerging markets also did well -- particularly India, where revenue from phone services was up 20 percent.
Vodafone last month agreed to buy C&W Worldwide for £1.04 billion, transforming the purely mobile operator into the UK's second-biggest mobile and fixed-line operator behind BT Group. The acquisition will improve Vodafone's network coverage in the UK and support its business-to-business operations around the globe.
Vodafone shares opened up 1.7 percent in London. The stock has fallen 7.8 percent since January through Monday's close.
Copyright (c) 2012 Dow Jones & Company Inc.
Vodafone says data services offer biggest growth opportunity - The Guardian
Vodafone has pinned its hopes for growth on digital, with income from connecting smartphones to the internet up 22%, helping balance voice call revenue declines and a tough trading environment in Europe.
"Data services offer the single biggest growth opportunity for the mobile industry since the launch of voice services over 25 years ago," said the company's chief executive, Vittorio Colao, as it announced full year results. "Our success in data is absolutely central to our strategy."
Revenues from data calls are now £6.2bn, around £1bn more than from text messages. This has been driven by the growing number of smartphone owners. Vodafone said penetration across its entire European base had risen to 27%, although adoption among customers with a contract is even higher, at 45%.
Vodafone reinforced its position as the largest dividend payer in the FTSE by raising its final payment to 6.47p a share, giving 13.52p for the year, its highest ever profit share. The company will pay out £6.8bn this year, compared to £4.5bn in 2011.
The increase was made possible by £2.9bn in cash received from America's largest mobile network, Verizon Wireless, in which Vodafone has a 45% stake. Verizon announced in July it would resume paying dividends.
Full-year revenues rose 1.2% to £46.6bn in the year to 31 March, and profit before tax stayed flat at £9.5bn.
UK revenues rose to £5.4bn, with data up 15% to £872m. The UK has yet to auction the airspace needed for fourth generation superfast mobile broadband, but Vodafone is already running 4G networks in Germany and Portugal. The company spent £1.4bn last year acquiring 4G spectrum in Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal and Hungary.
Vodafone forecast operating profit would grow on an underlying basis, to between £11.1bn and £11.9bn, boosted by growth at Verizon Wireless. The US income now represents 42% of group adjusted operating profit.
Vodafone has warned the eurozone crisis will hit revenues and lopped £4bn from the value of its businesses in southern europe. Factoring in a devaluation of the euro against the pound, Vodafone said service revenues next year were likely to be lower than previously forecast.
Margins were squeezed because of the cost of switching customers on to smartphones, and price cuts in Spain. Colao warned Europe would remain very difficult, saying: "Weak consumer demand from poor macroeconomic conditions, a harsh regulatory backdrop and ongoing competition create material barriers to growth."
Vodafone is pushing ahead with its £1.04bn offer for the fixed-line network operator Cable & Wireless Worldwide, and on Monday issued an offer document asking its target's shareholders to approve the deal by 18 June.
Vodafone is seeking to use the operator's fibre network to boost its fixed-line system in the UK and relieve the strain of surging data traffic.
Vodafone may delay IPO; FY12 revenue up 20% to Rs 32K cr - MoneyControl.com
Moneycontrol Bureau
Vodafone India, the second largest mobile services provider in the country by revenues and subscribers, reported a strong set of numbers for the year ended March even as it is locked in a battle with the finance ministry over tax dues.
Annual revenues grew 19.5% to Rs 32,000 crore, and operating profit rose 21.6% to Rs 8549 crore. The company said its subscriber base has crossed 150 million, with the number of data users surging 81% to over 35 million users. Average realization per user was Rs 180, compared to Bharti ’s Rs 189 and Idea Cellular ’s Rs 160. Revenues from voice business grew 15% and those from data increased 51%.
The company said its net debt stood at Rs 30,000 crore and planned to spend Rs 6216 on capex this financial year. The company said it had begun preparations for going public, but the initial public offering could take some time because of uncertain conditions.
Following the government’s decision to amend tax laws retrospectively, Vodafone is facing a tax claim in excess of Rs 10,000 crore. In addition, the telecom sector in general is staring at sharp rise in operating expenses if the TRAI proposal on 2G spectrum auction is accepted.
Vodafone said the TRAI recommendations were economically unattractive and that the regulatory scenario was changing on a day-to-day basis, and that is creating a lot of pressure. It also said there was a need for the telecom industry to consolidate.
Watch the accompanying video for more details..
No comments:
Post a Comment