Malaysia-based telecoms group Axiata has released its financial results for the three months ended 30 June 2010, revealing a 9.5% year-on-year increase in net profit as the company saw results improved by better performances across nearly all of its regional operations. For the three-month period Axiata posted a net profit of MYR576.8 million (USD183.14 million), up from MYR526.8 million in the same period a year earlier, with its local mobile subsidiary Celcom reporting y-o-y profit growth of 30% to MYR476 million. Group turnover stood at MYR3.85 billion in 2Q 2010, representing a 19.9% increase against 2Q09, while earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) were MYR1.81 billion, up 38% from MYR1.31 million twelve months previously.
In operational terms, at end-June 2010 Axiata reported a total subscriber base of 138.1 million, up from 99.2 million at end-June 2009, with Indian cellco Idea Cellular accounting for the lion’s share of those (68.9 million), while Indonesia’s XL Axiata contributed the second largest number, 35.2 million.
Commenting on the results Axiata chairman Azman Mokhtar noted: ‘The group’s focus on operations and cost has garnered positive results, a firm confirmation that we are on track towards building value.’