Maxis 3Q boosted by Aircel

Malaysia-based telecoms group Maxis Communications has posted an 18% rise in second quarter net profit, due to strong performances at home and abroad. Maxis reported a net profit of MYR468 million (USD128.6 million) for the three months ended 30 September 2006, on the back of a 28.3% rise in revenues to MYR1.97 billion. EBITDA was MYR946 million. The company’s domestic mobile business added 388,000 subscribers in the period, as the market steadily approached saturation levels, taking its total base to 8.86 million. Maxis’ Indian operator, Aircel, which it acquired for USD1.08 billion in January, provided a strong contribution, thanks to a 19% quarterly rise in subscribers to 3.8 million, though its start-up Indonesian unit Natrindo Telepon Seluler (Lippo Telecom) reported wider pre-tax losses of MYR72 million.