MANAMA: Batelco Group (Ticker: BATELCO), the regional Telecommunications Group with operations across 14 countries, on Tuesday said that its subscribers base posted an 18% year on year basis increase to 9million in 2013.
“The total numbers of subscribers registered a growth of 18% growth in mobile customers and 26% growth of the broadband subscriber base,” the company in a statement said.
Batelco Group applauded the results especially with the transformation achieved over the past 12 months, since the announcement of its acquisition of a number of units from CWC which includes Dhiraagu (Maldives), SURE Channel Islands and Isle of Man (CIIM) and SURE operations in Falkland Islands, St Helena, Ascension and Diego Garcia (SADG).
“Batelco Group is very pleased with its purchase and as anticipated, the acquisition has had a very positive impact on the Group’s performance. The total subscriber base has grown to 9.0 million across the 14 geographies of the expanded operation, representing 18% growth year on year. It is planned to build on the current momentum by pooling of Group resources, technologies and expertise, to further enhance competitiveness and performance in all markets of operation. This includes reinforcing Batelco Bahrain’s market position at home, where Batelco retains the position of leading integrated communications provider,” Batelco Group in a statement added.
Mobile subscriber numbers grew 18% year over year and 2% quarter on quarter. This increase was supported by strong performance in Bahrain, Jordan and Yemen as well as across the new JV’s. Broadband customers for the year also increased by an impressive 26% year over year and by 2% since the third quarter with results supported by progress in Jordan. Additionally, fixed line subscribers have risen by 39% year over year, again boosted by the addition of the Island Portfolio.