Swedish carrier Tele2 has reported a net profit of SEK 848m ($135m) for the third quarter 2008, compared to a loss of SEK 1.23 billion ($197m) in the year-ago quarter, on revenue down 2.3% at SEK 9.83 billion ($1.56 billion).
Operating profit fell 24% to SEK 423m ($67.3m) from SEK 557m ($88.68m) in the year-ago quarter.
The company said revenue from mobile operations grew 13% to SEK 6.38 billion ($1.01 billion), while fixed broadband sales rose 10% to SEK 1.5 billion ($239.7m). Fixed-telephony revenue fell 18.7% to SEK 1.64 billion ($262m).
Harri Koponen, president and chief executive at Tele2, said: Tele2 is now about to exit the phase of realignment, and to enter a new phase of transformation. Tele2 Russia continued to maintain its EBITDA margin of 36%, despite an initiated roll-out in 18 new regions including Krasnodar.
During the quarter, the company divested Tele2 Switzerland to TDC Sunrise for approximately SEK 300m ($47.7m). It had already completed the divestment of Tele2 Luxembourg and Tele2 Lichtenstein to Belgacom, and Tele2 Poland to Netia.
