The figures beat analyst forecasts and mean that the operator has increased its total client base to 20.1 million. Analysts had expected it to achieve new subscriber figures between 590,000 and 695,000. Fellow competitors Vodafone and T-Mobile also reported a bumper Christmas.
In the UK, mmO2 is ranked in fourth position, behind Vodafone, Orange, and T-Mobile. It managed to hold off the remaining UK rival, 3UK, the 3G operator controlled by Hutchison Whampoa. It added 430,000 new clients in the UK, including 145,000 contract customers. In Germany it added 335,000 customers, including 252,000 contract customers.
Subscriber revenues also proved to be robust, as the closely watched average revenues per user (ARPU) figure in the UK climbed to 264 pounds ($483) over the 12 months ending December 31, from 259 pounds ($474) at the end of September. In Germany, ARPU rose to 360 euros ($451) from 354 euros ($444) in the previous quarter.
Following this strong third-quarter performance, all our businesses remain on track to deliver our full-year growth and margin targets, said Chief Executive Peter Erskine in a statement.
MmO2 is expected to report its full-year results on May 18.
This article is based on material originally published by ComputerWire
