Brussels, 20 October 2014 – Today, Mobistar (Euronext Brussels: MOBB) publishes its results for the first nine months of 2014.
- Mobistar’s retail customer base in Belgium increased sequentially by 55,267 in the third quarter, sustained by network quality and 4G launch. The postpaid net additions turned back positive in the third quarter with a particularly solid performance in the residential segment.
- Mobistar increased the number of connected SIM cards on its network in Belgium and Luxembourg by 413,927 year-on-year to reach a total of 5,543,486.
- The blended ARPU in Belgium in the third quarter amounted to 23.9 euros, confirming the stabilisation versus the previous quarters.
- The results of the first nine months of 2014 confirm the sequential improvement of its financial performance quarter after quarter, reaching:
- Mobistar generated more than 43 million euros of net OPEX savings in the framework of its transformation program.
- Mobistar’s decision to accelerate its investments in the LTE roll-out led to a confirmation of its number 1 position in terms of 4G coverage in Belgium.
- Mobistar is raising its restated EBITDA guidance floor for the full year 2014, by narrowing its range to between 260 and 280 million euros from between 250 and 280 million previously.
- Mobistar confirms it will have its first very high-speed broadband and digital TV cable users connected before the end of the year, as the first step of its progressive entry in the convergent market.
‘We are increasingly seeing the positive results of the bold decisions we have taken, when launching our three-year transformation program 21 months ago. Our 4G network leadership is now undisputed and is increasingly being recognised by the Belgian consumers. Now that we have reengineered our distribution, our segmented product portfolio is delivering on its potential. In the third quarter of 2014 Mobistar is growing its retail postpaid customer base while not yet being a convergent player. The upcoming launch of Mobistar’s own cable offerings will reinforce this newfound momentum’ commented Jean-Marc Harion (CEO).
Ludovic Pech (CFO) added: ‘We have demonstrated this quarter our ability to regain market momentum in a very competitive environment while continuing to adapt our operating model. Our 50 million euros cost reduction program is delivering savings ahead of schedule. It allows us to invest in mobile customer acquisition and future growth opportunities like cable while raising our restated EBITDA guidance floor. But our transformation program is not only about cost. The outsourcing of our IT operations is a clear example of that; not only will it enable us to achieve the necessary savings but it will also make Mobistar more agile through improved processes and even more customer-centric operations.’