Malaysian mobile group Axiata has posted revenue for the third quarter of 2012 of MYR4.5 billion (USD1.5 billion), up 8.4% year-on-year on the back of what it described as ‘steady performance in key markets’. EBITDA meanwhile rose 1.8% year-on-year to MYR1.8 billion. The financial performance from the company’s subsidiaries in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh was particularly strong, with year to date sales up 14%, 24% and 28% in the three countries respectively. Sales from Axiata’s home market of Malaysia reached MYR5.8 billion for the first nine months of the year, their highest ever level, and accounted for 43.9% of group sales. Axiata claims its global mobile subscriber base reached 212.6 million at the end of September 2012, although more than half of this total comes from Idea Cellular in India, a company in which Axiata has only a minority stake. On a proportional basis reflecting Axiata’s equity stake in each subsidiary, the group’s global mobile subscriber base stood at approximately 105 million at 30 September.
Axiata’s president and group CEO Dato’ Sri Jamaludin Ibrahim, said of the results: ‘The Group posted another solid quarterly performance, underpinned by continued strong growth across our operating companies. Overall, our top line grew very well and I am especially pleased to see that the Group’s year to date revenue is showing double digit growth at constant currency. Data growth remains strong, Celcom and XL in particular continuing to see good traction in the segment. Despite foreign exchange fluctuations and slowing growth in traditional businesses, we are confident about our prospects for the rest of the year and of meeting our full year targets based on the three quarters of growth we have steadily and consistently achieved.’