HONG KONG, Nov. 12 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hutchison Telecommunications International Limited ('Hutchison Telecom'; 'the Group'; HKEx: 2332; NYSE: HTX) today reported its unaudited key performance indicators for its mobile operations for the quarter ended 30 September 2008.
The Group maintained growth in a quarter where overall economic conditions were turbulent. Its total user base grew to 11.2 million with strong contribution from Indonesian operations which grew 12.5% quarterly. Established markets Hong Kong and Israel recorded significant growth in 3G customers and continued to report progress in all other operational parameters.
The Group's Indonesian operations added more than 950 sites in the quarter and added 401,000 new customers resulting in a total customer base of over 3.6 million. This represented year-on-year growth of 122% and quarterly growth of 12.5%. In established markets the Group's operations reported sustained healthy growth in the 3G segment. The Hong Kong operations continued to consolidate its 3G market leader position with a 6.9% growth in its 3G customer base during the quarter, and its 1.3 million customers representing approximately 50% share of the 3G market in Hong Kong. Total customer base of Hong Kong has grown to approximately 2.7 million. Israeli operations also saw strong growth in the 3G segment which increased 8% during the quarter to 901,000, taking their total customer base to approximately 2.9 million.
During the quarter the Group's Indonesian operations continued to rebalance network traffic and cut back promotional offers which led to a 20% improvement in the key operational profitability parameter Average Revenue Per Minute to IDR177. This repositioning together with the ongoing intensity in the competitive environment impacted their other operational parameters although these showed improvement towards the end of the third quarter. The operations' network expansion plan progressed on track during the quarter and is now heading towards achieving the target of over 6,000 base stations by the end of 2008.
The high profile launch of iPhone 3G in Hong Kong during the quarter boosted mobile data usage and related revenues with over 40% of the iPhone users subscribed to the highest monthly plan. As a result non-voice revenue of the Group's Hong Kong mobile operations as a percentage of total revenue trended up to 21.2% during the quarter.
Dennis Lui, Chief Executive Officer of Hutchison Telecom said: "Against a backdrop of intensified competition and global economic turmoil, we are pleased that the Group's key mobile operations continued to report sustained customer growth and improvement in operational parameters. These are achieved through the successful implementation of strategic initiatives in our growth markets and effective leverage of our 3G market leadership role in established markets."
The Groups' Hong Kong fixed line operations also registered steady growth in its international and carrier businesses as well as corporate and business market. The Group remains confident to see its Hong Kong fixed line operations achieve healthy year on year turnover growth.
About Hutchison Telecommunications International Limited
Hutchison Telecommunications International Limited ('Hutchison Telecom' or 'the Group') is a leading global provider of telecommunications services. The Group currently offers mobile and fixed-line telecommunication services in Hong Kong and Israel, and operates mobile telecommunications services in Macau, Indonesia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Thailand. It was the first provider of 3G mobile services in Hong Kong and Israel and operates brands including "3", "Hutch" and "Orange".
Hutchison Telecom is a listed company with American Depositary Shares quoted on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker HTX and shares listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong under the stock code 2332. A subsidiary of the Hong Kong-based Hutchison Whampoa Group, Hutchison Telecom is dedicated to providing superior telecommunications services in dynamic markets. For more information about Hutchison Telecom, see http://www.htil.com .
Cautionary Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the beliefs and expectations of Hutchison Telecommunications International Limited ('the Company'), are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current plans, estimates and projections, and therefore you should not place undue reliance on them. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any of them in light of new information or future events. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The Company cautions that if these risks or uncertainties ever materialise or the assumptions prove incorrect, or if a number of important factors occur or do not occur, the Company's actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement. Additional information as to factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's forward-looking statements can be found in the Company's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
-- Financial Tables to Follow --
Unaudited Key Performance Indicators for Third Quarter 2008
Customer Base Q3 2008 Q2 2008
30 September 2008 30 June 2008
Total Postpaid Prepaid Total Postpaid Prepaid
Market ('000) ('000) ('000) ('000) ('000) ('000)
Hong Kong (incl Macau) 2,657 1,766 891 2,595 1,720 875
Indonesia 3,604 9 3,595 3,203 7 3,196
Israel 2,882 2,145 737 2,856 2,135 721
Sri Lanka* 958 -- 958 1,291 -- 1,291
Thailand 1,094 420 674 1,117 418 699
Total 11,195 -- -- 11,062 -- --
Customer Base (Continued) Q1 2008 Q4 2007
31 March 2008 31 December 2007
Total Postpaid Prepaid Total Postpaid Prepaid
Market ('000) ('000) ('000) ('000) ('000) ('000)
Hong Kong (incl Macau) 2,515 1,698 817 2,427 1,671 756
Indonesia 2,331 4 2,327 2,039 3 2,036
Israel 2,823 2,108 715 2,860 2,068 792
Sri Lanka* 1,289 -- 1,289 1,141 -- 1,141
Thailand 1,071 405 666 978 372 606
Total 10,029 -- -- 9,445 -- --
Customer Base (Continued) Q3 2007
30 September 2007
Total Postpaid Prepaid
Market ('000) ('000) ('000)
Hong Kong (incl Macau) 2,290 1,629 661
Indonesia 1,627 2 1,625
Israel 2,796 2,004 792
Sri Lanka* 1,002 -- 1,002
Thailand 884 346 538
Total 8,599 -- --
*Q3 2008 customer base figure has been restated as mentioned in pages 1
and 3.
Notes:
(1) A customer is defined as a Postpaid Customer or a Prepaid Customer
who has a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) or Universal Subscriber
Identity Module (USIM)that has access to the network for any purpose,
including voice, data or video services.
(2) Postpaid Customers are defined as those whose mobile
telecommunications service usage is paid in arrears upon receipt of
the mobile telecommunications operator's invoice and who have not been
temporarily or permanently suspended from service.
(3) Prepaid Customers are defined as customers with prepaid SIM cards or
prepaid USIM cards that have been activated but not been used up or
expired at period end. A new prepaid customer is recognised upon
making the first call or registration/activation.
(4) All numbers quoted on the basis of the total customer base of the
operation irrespective of the Company's ownership percentage.
(5) All numbers quoted as at last day of the quarter.
(6) The data for Hong Kong and Israel relate to both 2G and 3G services.
(7) The data for Ghana and Vietnam are excluded.
ARPU (1) Q3 2008 Q2 2008
30 September 2008 30 June 2008
Market Currency Blended Postpaid Prepaid Blended Postpaid Prepaid
Hong Kong
(incl Macau) HKD 150 213 24 148 210 24
Indonesia IDR('000) 10 134 9 12 108 12
Israel NIS 166 -- -- 158 -- --
Sri Lanka LKR 181 -- 181 163 -- 163
Thailand THB 378 763 143 386 784 147
ARPU (1)(Continued) Q1 2008 Q4 2007
31 March, 2008 31 December 2007
Market Currency Blended Postpaid Prepaid Blended Postpaid Prepaid
Hong Kong
(incl Macau) HKD 149 208 24 161 218 28
Indonesia IDR ('000) 14 120 14 15 114 15
Israel NIS 155 -- -- 157 -- --
Sri Lanka LKR 193 -- 193 242 -- 242
Thailand THB 405 808 157 417 813 165
ARPU (1)(Continued) Q3 2007
30 September 2007
Market Currency Blended Postpaid Prepaid
Hong Kong (incl Macau) HKD 162 216 29
Indonesia IDR('000) -- -- --
Israel NIS 165 -- --
Sri Lanka LKR 287 -- 287
Thailand THB 434 815 183
Notes:
(1) The monthly Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) is calculated as the
total Service Revenues for the month divided by the simple
average number of activated customers for the month.
The monthly ARPU for the quarter represents the average of the
monthly ARPU in the quarter.
(2) Service Revenues are defined as the direct recurring service
revenues plus roaming revenues.
(3) The data for Hong Kong and Israel relate to both 2G and 3G
services.
(4) The data for Ghana and Vietnam are excluded.
MOU(1) Q3 2008 Q2 2008
30 September 2008 30 June 2008
Market Blended Postpaid Prepaid Blended Postpaid Prepaid
Hong Kong (incl Macau) 465 679 42 462 672 42
Indonesia 56 209 56 82 117 82
Israel 376 -- -- 368 -- --
Sri Lanka 71 -- 71 54 -- 54
Thailand 618 1,095 328 607 1,086 319
MOU(1) (Continued) Q1 2008 Q4 2007
31 March 2008 31 December 2007
Market Blended Postpaid Prepaid Blended Postpaid Prepaid
Hong Kong (incl Macau) 461 655 43 491 680 49
Indonesia 94 104 94 83 59 83
Israel 359 -- -- 345 -- --
Sri Lanka 60 -- 60 69 -- 69
Thailand 632 1,134 324 643 1,110 347
MOU(1) (Continued) Q3 2007
30 September 2007
Market Blended Postpaid Prepaid
Hong Kong (incl Macau) 506 691 51
Indonesia -- -- --
Israel 343 -- --
Sri Lanka 81 -- 81
Thailand 648 1,088 358
Notes:
(1) The monthly Minutes of Use (MOU) is calculated as the total minutes
carried over the network (2G total airtime usage + 3G voice and
video usage, but excluding inbound on-net minutes) for the month
divided by the simple average number of activated custom.
(2) The data for Hong Kong and Israel relate to both 2G and 3G services
(3) The data for Ghana and Vietnam are excluded
Churn1 Q3 2008 Q2 2008
30 September 2008 30 June 2008
Market Blended Postpaid Prepaid Blended Postpaid Prepaid
Hong Kong (incl Macau) 4.3% 1.6% 9.0% 4.0% 1.8% 8.0%
Indonesia 18.1% 5.3% 18.1% 15.6% 7.9% 15.6%
Israel 1.3% -- -- 1.3% -- --
Sri Lanka 5.0% -- 5.0% 3.8% -- 3.8%
Thailand 6.5% 3.0% 8.6% 6.0% 2.9% 7.8%
Churn1 (Continued) Q1 2008 Q4 2007
31 March 2008 31 December 2007
Market Blended Postpaid Prepaid Blended Postpaid Prepaid
Hong Kong (incl Macau) 3.5% 1.8% 6.7% 3.3% 1.8% 6.2%
Indonesia 17.6% 11.0% 17.6% 17.7% 16.3% 17.7%
Israel 1.7% -- -- 1.3% -- --
Sri Lanka 2.9% -- 2.9% 2.4% -- 2.4%
Thailand 5.8% 2.7% 7.8% 5.2% 2.8% 6.8%
Churn1 (Continued) Q3 2007
30 September 2007
Market Blended Postpaid Prepaid
Hong Kong (incl Macau) 3.9% 1.8% 8.2%
Indonesia -- -- --
Israel 1.1% -- --
Sri Lanka 2.2% -- 2.2%
Thailand 5.5% 3.4% 6.9%
Notes:
(1) The monthly churn % is calculated as the average number of
disconnections (net of reconnection and internal migration between
networks) for the month divided by
the simple average number of activated customers for the month. The
monthly churn % for the quarter represents the average of the
monthly churn rates in the quarter.
(2) The data for Hong Kong and Israel relate to both 2G and 3G services
(3) The data for Ghana and Vietnam are excluded.
The Board wishes to remind investors that the above key performance
indicators are based on the Group's unaudited internal records.
Investors are cautioned not to unduly rely on such data.
For enquiries, please contact:
Mickey Shiu
Corporate Communications or Investor Relations
Hutchison Telecom
Tel: +852-2128-3107
Mobile: +852-9092-8233
Email: mickeyshiu@htil.com.hk
SOURCE Hutchison Telecommunications International Limited
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