Cellphone operator Vodacom, which is being taken over by Vodafone, reported a 13,7% rise in nine-month revenue as it boosted subscribers in its non-South African markets.
Vodacom said in a statement that revenue for the nine months ended December 31 2008 rose to R40,5-billion versus the year-ago period as mobile customers rose 14,3% to 37,8-million. Its customer base increased 5,8% versus the previous quarter.
Vodacom is joint-owned by fixed-line operator Telkom and Vodafone, but the British company has agreed to increase its stake, giving it control.
The company, which operates mobile networks in four other countries in Africa, wants to expand on the continent to offset slower growth in its more mature home market, and said its non-South African operations comprised 11,3-million customers, or 30% of the total.
On a quarterly basis, non-South African customers rose 8,4%. Its South African subscriber base swelled 4,8% versus the previous quarter to 26,45-million, and it lost one percentage point of market share to 52%. — Reuters