HONG KONG, May 6 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hutchison Telecommunications International Limited (''Hutchison Telecom''; ''the Group''; SEHK: 2332; NYSE: HTX) today announced its unaudited key performance indicators and consolidated profit attributable to equity holders of the Company for the quarter ended 31 March 2008.
The Group's emerging market operations in Indonesia and Sri Lanka continued to provide momentum in customer acquisition in the first quarter where the base grew 14.3% to 2.3 million in Indonesia and 13% to 1.3 million in Sri Lanka. Excluding Ghana and Vietnam, the Group's total customer base was over 10 million at the end of the quarter. This represents a 6.2% like-for- like quarterly growth. The growth in Indonesia and Sri Lanka was mainly fuelled by continued network expansion in both markets.
In established markets the Group's operations reported sustained healthy growth in its customer base with most of the net additions from the 3G segment. In Hong Kong, the 3G customer base increased to 1,145,000 at the end of the first quarter representing a 6.1% quarterly growth. In Israel our operations also saw a strong growth in its 3G customer base of 19% in the quarter to 753,000.
During the quarter, increased level of promotional activities in Indonesia hindered our ARPU (average revenue per user) improvement, which dropped slightly from IDR15,000 to IDR14,000. Our operations in Sri Lanka also experienced attrition in ARPU due to the unfavourable economic situation.
Hong Kong operations' ARPU was affected by seasonal factors particularly fewer business days in the first quarter, which led to a drop in MOU ('minutes of use'). This drove postpaid ARPU down to HK$208. Nevertheless, 3G ARPU remained stable during the quarter demonstrating the emergence of established user habits in data content and services. In Israel our MOU increased by 4.1% in the quarter but the positive impact was mostly offset by short term promotional pricing during the quarter. Due to a higher percentage of 3G customers in Israel, ARPU for the quarter was 1.3% higher than the same period last year.
Dennis Lui, Chief Executive Officer of Hutchison Telecom said: ''We are pleased to present a set of healthy operational parameters in the first quarter despite it being a traditionally slower period. Our focus to achieve growth in Indonesia continued to show results while our strategy to win share in growth segments in Hong Kong and Israel is reinforcing our leading positions and so further setting us apart from competition.''
The Group also announced unaudited consolidated profit attributable to equity holders of the Company of HK$310 million for the quarter, compared with a like-for-like loss of HK$236 million for the same period last year.
About Hutchison Telecommunications International Limited
Hutchison Telecommunications International Limited ('Hutchison Telecom' or 'the Group') is a leading global provider of telecommunication services. The Group currently offers mobile and fixed-line telecommunication services in Hong Kong, and operates mobile telecommunication services in Macau, Israel, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Indonesia and Vietnam. It was the first provider of 3G mobile services in Hong Kong and Israel. Its leading brands include ''Hutch'', ''3'' 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 member of the Hong Kong-based Hutchison Whampoa Group, Hutchison Telecom is committed to providing superior telecommunication 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 you 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.
Unaudited Key Performance Indicators for First Quarter 2008
Customer Base 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 Q3 2007 Q2 2007
30 September 2007 30 June 2007
Total Postpaid Prepaid Total Postpaid Prepaid
Market ('000) ('000) ('000) ('000) ('000) ('000)
Hong Kong (incl Macau) 2,290 1,629 661 2,239 1,590 649
Indonesia 1,627 2 1,625 -- -- --
Israel 2,796 2,004 792 2,733 1,952 781
Sri Lanka 1,002 -- 1,002 819 -- 819
Thailand 884 346 538 796 317 479
Total 8,599 6,587
Customer Base Q1 2007
31 March 2007
Total Postpaid Prepaid
Market ('000) ('000) ('000)
Hong Kong (incl Macau) 2,199 1,557 642
Indonesia -- -- --
Israel 2,703 1,920 783
Sri Lanka 685 -- 685
Thailand 747 306 441
Total 6,334
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 is excluded.
ARPU(1) 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) Q3 2007 Q2 2007
30 September 2007 30 June 2007
Market Currency Blended Postpaid Prepaid Blended Postpaid Prepaid
Hong Kong
(incl Macau) HKD 162 216 29 160 214 27
Indonesia IDR ('000) -- -- -- -- -- --
Israel NIS 165 157
Sri Lanka LKR 287 -- 287 311 -- 311
Thailand THB 434 815 183 463 843 200
ARPU(1) Q1 2007
31 March 2007
Market Currency Blended Postpaid Prepaid
Hong Kong (incl Macau) HKD 152 204 27
Indonesia IDR ('000) -- -- --
Israel NIS 153
Sri Lanka LKR 337 -- 337
Thailand THB 501 893 220
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 is excluded.
MOU(1) 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 181 128 181 156 71 156
Israel 359 345
Sri Lanka 78 -- 78 86 -- 86
Thailand 675 1,217 342 684 1,187 366
MOU(1) Q3 2007 Q2 2007
30 September 2007 30 June 2007
Market Blended Postpaid Prepaid Blended Postpaid Prepaid
Hong Kong
(incl Macau) 506 691 51 490 673 47
Indonesia -- -- -- -- -- --
Israel 343 331
Sri Lanka 100 -- 100 113 -- 113
Thailand 686 1,160 377 676 1,059 410
MOU(1) Q1 2007
31 March 2007
Market Blended Postpaid Prepaid
Hong Kong (incl Macau) 475 653 47
Indonesia -- -- --
Israel 323
Sri Lanka 123 -- 123
Thailand 697 1,039 451
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, including both inbound and outbound roaming) for the month
divided by the simple average number of activated customers for the
month. The monthly MOU for the quarter represents the average of the
monthly MOU 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 is excluded.
Churn(1) 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%
Churn(1) Q3 2007 Q2 2007
30 September 2007 30 June 2007
Market Blended Postpaid Prepaid Blended Postpaid Prepaid
Hong Kong
(incl Macau) 3.9% 1.8% 8.2% 3.7% 1.7% 7.7%
Indonesia -- -- -- -- -- --
Israel 1.1% 1.2%
Sri Lanka 2.2% -- 2.2% 2.8% -- 2.8%
Thailand 5.5% 3.4% 6.9% 6.5% 3.9% 8.2%
Churn(1) Q1 2007
31 March 2007
Market Blended Postpaid Prepaid
Hong Kong (incl Macau) 4.3% 1.7% 9.2%
Indonesia -- -- --
Israel 1.5%
Sri Lanka 2.5% -- 2.5%
Thailand 6.6% 4.2% 8.2%
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 is 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 / Investor Relations
Hutchison Telecom
Work: +852-2128-3107
Mobile: +852-9092-8233
Email: mickeyshiu@htil.com.hk
SOURCE Hutchison Telecommunications International Limited
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