Sweden-based telecoms group Tele2 has recorded 10% year-on-year revenue growth in 2018, attributed largely to its merger with broadband and pay-TV operator Com Hem, which was concluded in November 2018. Tele2 reported total revenue of SEK23.70 billion (USD2.6 billion) in full-year 2018, up from SEK21.47 billion the previous year. Tele2 also saw adjusted EBITDA growth of 15% from SEK5.80 billion to SEK6.66 billion in the twelve months ended 31 December 2018, while the firm recorded operating profit of SEK3.75 billion, up 8.1% from SEK3.47 billion a year ago. Net profit, however, was negatively affected by an impairment of deferred tax assets, dropping from SEK2.43 billion to SEK1.61 billion during 2018.
In operational terms, in Tele2’s biggest market of Sweden the total number of mobile subscribers decreased from 3.026 million at 31 December 2017 to 2.947 million one year later, while fixed broadband subscribers in the country increased from 778,000 to 827,000 in the same period.