Rogers Communications has posted revenue of CAD3.03 billion (USD2.95 billion) for the first quarter of 2013, up 3% year-on-year as sales growth in each of its wireless, cable and business divisions offset a decline in media revenue. Adjusted net income for the period grew 15% year-on-year to CAD414 million. Rogers added 32,000 post-paid wireless subscribers during the quarter, below the 47,000 added during the first quarter of 2012, amid increased competition from established rivals Bell and Telus, as well as from newcomers Wind Mobile, Mobilicity and Public Mobile. However, the company’s wireless division activated and upgraded approximately 673,000 smartphones overall, compared to 642,000 in the corresponding period last year. This growing take-up of smartphones helped produce a 3.5% year-on-year increase in monthly blended ARPU to CAD59.68, some 45.3% of which is now derived from data services (up from 38.9% in the first quarter of 2012).
‘The record first quarter levels of both revenue and adjusted operating profit which Rogers reported represents a solid start to 2013,’ said Nadir Mohamed, president and CEO of Rogers Communications. ‘The positive operating trends which we achieved during 2012 are carrying into the new year as evidenced by the continued improvements in ARPU, data and internet revenue, churn and margin profiles which we reported for the first quarter of 2013.’