Tele2 Q3 EBITDA rises 6%, launches seven new Russian operations in quarter

Sweden-based telecoms group Tele2 has announced its consolidated results for the third quarter of 2009 showing that revenues climbed 3% year-on-year to SEK9.76 billion (USD1.41 billion), while EBITDA increased by 6% to SEK2.38 billion. Tele2 Sweden’s mobile operations added 107,000 net new customers in July-September 2009, but this was overshadowed by new subscriber intake of 1.1 million at the group’s Russian division (compared to 449,000 in Q3 2008), helped by the launch of services in seven additional Russian regions during the quarter. Tele2 said that in Croatia it improved its operational performance and is aiming for EBITDA break-even by 2H 2010. Earlier this month the group sold its French MVNO operations for SEK575 million.