Vancouver-based telecoms group Telus Corporation has reported first quarter 2009 revenue of CAD2.375 billion (USD2.032 billion), an increase of 1% over the same period of 2008. The increase was driven primarily by 3% growth in wireless revenue and 6% growth in wireline data revenue, more than offsetting the ongoing declines in local and long-distance wireline revenues. Consolidated EBITDA in the three months ended 31 March 2009 decreased by 4.5% year-on-year due to increased pension plan expenses and investments in operating efficiency initiatives, but net income rose by 10% to CAD322 million, helped by favourable income tax-related adjustments of approximately CAD62 million, compared to CAD17 million a year earlier. Excluding income tax-related adjustments in 2008 and 2009, net income fell 5% due to lower operating income.
Announced alongside its January-March results, Telus revealed that it signed up its 100,000th IPTV customer in April. According to TeleGeography’s GlobalComms database, Telus first switched on a limited IPTV service in late 2005, but took until last year to begin mass marketing the TELUS TV brand after rolling out the necessary infrastructure in Alberta, British Columbia and eastern Quebec. The latest subscriber figures means that Telus is Canada’s IPTV market leader, overtaking Manitoba-based MTS and Saskatchewan operator SaskTel; Bell Aliant also offers commercial IPTV in the Atlantic provinces, whilst Bell Canada currently operates a trial service.
Also reported today, Telus has made an agreement with Bell Canada to expand its pay-TV footprint by reselling the ‘Bell TV’ direct-to-home (DTH) satellite TV service in Alberta and British Columbia under the TELUS Satellite TV brand.