TINTSWALO BALOYI
JOHANNESBURG – the continent’s biggest mobile network operator by subscribers, has released a mixed set of results for the half-year ended June 30.

According to the results released in Johannesburg on Friday morning, revenue increased by 14 percent to R78, 87 billion (US$5,766 billion)

Data revenue increased by 32,2 percent to R19, 8 billion while voice traffic and data traffic increased by 7,9 percent and 135,3 percent respectively.

However, group subscribers remained flat at 232,6 million from December 31, 2015 following 6,6 million subscriber disconnections over the six month period in Nigeria, Uganda and Cameroon. Nonetheless, it maintains leadership in 15 of its 22 markets across Africa and the Middle East.

Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) decreased by 3,3 percent to R29 273 million as EBITDA margin decreased 6,6 percentage points to 37,1 percent.

Despite headline loss per share of 271 cents, an interim dividend of 250 cents per share was declared.

Performance was impacted by the Nigeria regulatory fine re-measurement of R10,5 billion.
– Guardian