Vodafone Qatar 1H20 service revenues climb 3.4%

Vodafone Qatar reported a 0.9% year-on-year increase in total revenue for H1 2020, to QAR1.072 billion (USD294 million), with service revenues growing by 3.4% to QAR1.000 billion, driven by continued growth in post-paid mobile subscriptions and higher home broadband turnover, and despite total mobile customers decreasing by 6.4% y-o-y to 1.650 million at 30 June. Half-yearly net profit of QAR81 million represented a y-o-y rise of 3.9%, mainly driven by higher EBITDA – up 8.9% to QAR390 million in January-June 2020 helped by cost optimisation, lower equipment cost and reduced mobile termination rates. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Vodafone Qatar said it was quick to activate business continuity measures which proved vital in minimising operational disruptions, as it continued to ‘fully deliver services and products to all of its customers thereby facilitating remote work, learning and other digital needs.’ The operator added that it is accelerating the deployment of fibre and 5G in several strategic locations across Qatar.