European operator MmO2 reported strong customer and data growth across its operations at the end of June. The mobile carrier added 504,000 customers, a 2.8-percent increase over the previous quarter, in saturated markets and boosted average revenue per user in the United Kingdom and Germany.
“Clearly there are challenges ahead,” warned Peter Erskine, chief executive of MmO2. “As well as aiming to maintain our momentum in the current competitive environment, we must seek to mitigate the financial impact of the imminent termination rate cut in the United Kingdom.”
However, the operator said it is on track to meet its full-year targets.
In the United Kingdom, MmO2 counted 12.3 million customers at the end of June, an increase of 10.2 percent compared with the same quarter last year. ARPU increased 2.8 percent over the previous quarter and 8.5 percent compared with the same period last year.
In Germany, the operator added 225,000 customers in the quarter for a total 5.04 million. ARPU increased from $386 in the previous quarter to $395 in the quarter ended June 30.
In Ireland, the operator’s customer base grew slightly to 1.272 million, and ARPU was in line with the previous quarter.
The number of short message service messages sent in the quarter was 2.42 billion, 2.8 percent higher than the previous quarter. Data as a proportion of service revenue in the quarter fell to 18.1 percent from 19.6 percent in the previous quarter, due to stronger voice revenue growth, the operator said.
