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MTN Group Limited - Mtn Group Release Of Subscriber Numbers For The Quarter
Ended 31 March 2006
MTN Group Limited
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number 1994/009584/06)
(Share code: MTN)
(ISIN code: ZAE000042164)
("MTN Group" or "the Group)
MTN GROUP RELEASE OF SUBSCRIBER NUMBERS FOR THE QUARTER ENDED 31 MARCH 2006
MTN Group recorded 55% year-on-year growth in subscribers in its operations to
24,185,000. This represents a 4% increase since the last reported period ended
31 December 2005. Excluding operations acquired in the previous financial
period, year-on-year subscriber growth was 43%.
Traditionally, seasonality in the first quarter of the calendar year results in
lower connections and airtime usage relative to the remaining quarters. The
first quarter of a new financial year reports the quarter"s average revenue per
user ("ARPU"), while the previous period"s ARPU is a year to date number. Due to
the change in year end this is the first time that ARPU"s are being disclosed
for the first quarter to 31 March.
MTN South Africa showed strong post-paid acquisitions. Pre-paid acquisitions
also remained strong although declining on a net basis due to increased churn at
the low end following the promotion of pre-paid product in the previous quarter.
The promotion has since been terminated, and net connections have now
normalised. The subscriber base of MTN Group"s South African operations
therefore reduced by 36,000 in the first quarter of the year. MTN Group"s
international operations recorded a total of 13,986,000 subscribers - an
increase of 8% since December 2005, now accounting for 58% of Group subscriber
base (31 December 2005: 56%). MTN Nigeria remained the largest of the
international operations, with growth of 8% since the prior quarter and its
closing base of 9,036,000 representing 65% of the Group"s subscribers outside of
South Africa.
For MTN South Africa the current quarter"s blended ARPU reduced to R155 in line
with Group"s expectations with pre-paid ARPU of R87 and post-paid ARPU of R496
being recorded. MTN Nigeria recorded blended ARPU of $19, which is a 5%
reduction quarter-on-quarter, in line with Group expectations. When compared to
the average ARPU for 9 months ended 31 December 2005, the quarter"s ARPU dropped
by $3 or 14%.
The Group"s operations in Iran are still on target to launch within its licence
commitment.
Further details on subscriber numbers and ARPU trends are provided below.
Subscribers
31-Mar-06 31-Dec-05 % 31-Mar-05 %
Change Change
vs Dec vs Mar
05 05
South Africa 10,199,000 10,235,000 0% 8,001,000 27%
Post-paid 1,757,000 1,654,000 6% 1,391,000 26%
Pre-paid 8,442,000 8,581,000 -2% 6,610,000 28%
Nigeria 9,036,000 8,370,000 8% 5,574,000 62%
Cameroon 1,409,000 1,248,000 13% 919,000 53%
Cote d"Ivoire 1,068,000 1,080,000 -1% - -
Uganda 1,128,000 982,000 15% 782,000 44%
Mascom - Botswana 497,000 479,000 4% - -
Rwanda 293,000 275,000 7% 209,000 40%
Congo - 222,000 210,000 6% - -
Brazzaville
Swaziland 224,000 213,000 5% 156,000 44%
Zambia 109,000 97,000 12% - -
TOTAL 24,185,000 23,189,000 4% 15,641,000 55%
Note: MTN only accounts for subscribers who have made or received a revenue
generating call within an unbroken period of 90days on its networks
ARPUs
31-Mar- 31-Dec- 31-Mar-
06 05 05
South Africa R 155 R 169 R 184
(blended)
Post-paid R 496 R 541
Pre-paid R 87 R 93
Nigeria $19 $22 $40
Cameroon $14 $16 $23
Cote d"Ivoire $18 $20 -
Uganda $12 $15 $19
Mascom - Botswana $18 $21 -
Rwanda $16 $17 $19
Congo - Brazzaville $20 $21 -
Swaziland $21 $23 $29
Zambia $20 $20 -
Fairland
15 May 2006
Sponsor
Merrill Lynch South Africa (Proprietary) Limited
Date: 15/05/2006 12:29:47 PM Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za
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