Qtel reports 8.3 per cent slide in Q3 net profit

Qtel Group announced that during the nine months to September 30, 2010, group revenue advanced 14.4 per cent year-on-year to QAR 20.0 billion (US$5.49 billion) The group’s EBITDA improved by 15.1 per cent year-on-year to QAR 9.5 billion, with its EBITDA margin ending the period at 48 per cent.

Qtel’s consolidated customer base stood at 68.9 million at the end of September, with the group experiencing strong momentum in Indonesia, where Indosat’s consolidated customer base rose to 40.4 million at the period-end, a year-on-year increase of 40.8 per cent. Revenue for the Indonesian operator increased 27.8 per cent to QAR 5.9 billion for the nine months to end-September.

In Qatar, Qtel reported successfully maintaining market and income leadership, with customer numbers steady at 2.4 million and a mobile customer market share of 77.9 per cent.

For the three months to end-September, Qtel generated revenues of QAR 6.889 billion, up 16 per cent year-on-year. EBITDA amounted to QAR3.270 billion, up 16.2 per cent year-on-year, though net profit attributable to Qtel shareholders fell 8.3 per cent to QAR 651.9 million.