Deutsche Telekom has reported a net loss of E730m ($918.12m) for the fourth quarter 2008, against a loss of E750m ($943.27m) in the year-ago quarter, on revenue up 2% at E16.1 billion ($20.24 billion).
The loss was attributed to a E500m ($628.85m) impairment related to Hellenic Telecommunications, a Greek operator in which it acquired a 25% stake for E3.2 billion ($4.02 billion) last year. EBITDA during the quarter grew 37% to E3.6 billion ($4.52 billion), and net cash from operating activities grew 21% to E4.07 billion ($5.11 billion).
The company said mobile communications revenue grew 7% to E9.43 billion ($11.86 billion), while broadband/fixed-line network revenue fell 4% to E5.34 billion ($6.71 billion). Revenue from business customers fell 6% to E3.02 billion ($3.79 billion), and group headquarters and shared services revenue fell 12% to E846m ($1.06 billion).
For fiscal 2008 the company reported a net profit of E1.48 billion ($1.86 billion) compared to E571m ($718.14m) a year ago, on revenue down 1% at E61.66 billion ($77.55 billion).
Rene Obermann, chairman of Deutsche Telekom, said: Our 2008 financial year is characterized by stable performance and sound financial figures. The development of earnings in the past years and the current financial figures were proof of the fact that Deutsche Telekom was in good shape.
For fiscal 2009 the company said it expects adjusted EBITDA to be around E19.5 billion ($24.5 billion) and free cash to be E7 billion ($8.8 billion).
