Start-up losses at the Mannesmann Mobilfunk GmbH rose 45% to around $220m, but the 51%-owned cellular affiliate was about the only bright spot in a thoroughly gloomy financial report from steel pipe maker Mannesmann AG: according to Reuter, the company said it was satisfied with the growth in new subscribers to its D-2 mobile phone division – the number of subscribers reached 220,000 by the end of April, and the firm is expected to break even next year – good news for Pacific Telesis Group Inc with 26% and Cable & Wireless Plc with 5%; overall, the company sees little prospect for fundamental improvement and it will make a first half loss.
