Brazilian fixed line operator Brasil Telecom Participacoes (BrT) posted net profits of BRL248.3 million (USD149.48 million) in the three months ended 31 March 2008, up 46% from BRL169.9 million in the same period of 2007, driven by broadband and cellular subscriber gains and lower debt payments. Quarterly turnover climbed 2.6% year-on-year to BRL2.76 billion as a fall in sales of traditional fixed line products was offset by rising demand for internet, data and cellular services. The telco said data revenue increased by 23% on 1Q07 to BRL791 million as its broadband internet unit added 253,800 clients to end the period with 1.64 million users. The group’s mobile arm posted revenue of BRL466.1 million (+8.5% y-o-y), increasing its subscriber base by 26% in the year to end March to 4.58 million. Group EBITDA dipped from BRL952 million to BRL910.7 million.