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MTN - MTN Group Limited - Release of subscriber numbers for the quarter ended 30

Release Date: 31/10/2008 09:02
Code(s): MTN
Wrap Text

MTN - MTN Group Limited - Release of subscriber numbers for the quarter ended 30 September 2008 MTN Group Limited (Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa) (Registration Number 1994/009584/06) (Share code MTN & ISIN ZAE000042164) ("MTN") RELEASE OF SUBSCRIBER NUMBERS FOR THE QUARTER ENDED 30 September 2008 MTN Group recorded 80,736,000 subscribers at 30 September 2008. This is a 9% increase for the quarter from 74,058,000 subscribers recorded at 30 June 2008. The attached analysis is presented on a regional basis. The proportional subscriber contribution between the regions remains unchanged with that at 30 June 2008. South and East Africa (SEA) region contributed 28% of the Group`s total subscribers while West and Central Africa (WECA) and Middle East and North Africa (MENA) contributed 44% and 28% respectively. The SEA region increased its subscriber base by 7% for the quarter. The South African operation contributes 72% to the region`s subscribers, with its subscribers increasing 4% to 16,173,000 for the quarter ended 30 September 2008. Postpaid net connections were satisfactory for the quarter. Prepaid growth was underpinned by the value proposition, MTN Zone, which was enhanced to include off net calls and which continues to be a success. Uganda increased its subscriber base by 16% following the introduction of MTN Zone in late July, with approximately 2 million subscribers on this price plan at 30 September 2008. The WECA region increased its subscriber base by 10% for the quarter. Nigeria contributes 56% to the region`s subscribers and recorded a 9% increase in its subscriber base to 20,171,000. Aggressive network rollout in Nigeria continued in Q3 with 524 BTS`s rolled out during the quarter. Quality of service improved significantly resulting in the advertising ban being lifted by the regulator. In the WECA region MTN Zone was introduced in Ghana, Cameroon and Benin during the period under review. Ghana rolled out 377 BTS`s and increased its subscriber base by 14% to 5,713,000. Both Cameroon and Cote d`Ivoire increased their subscriber bases by 7% to 3,313,000 and 3,243,000 respectively. The MENA region recorded a 10% increase in subscribers for the quarter. This was mainly due to continued growth from the Iran operation, which increased its subscribers by 13% to 13,139,000. Following the substantial disconnections in Q2, subscriber growth in Sudan has started to show an improvement with a 7% increase in its subscribers to 2,266,000. Syria`s more modest increase of 2% is attributed to a slowdown in acquisitions during the Ramadan period. MTN South Africa`s blended ARPU increased by 1% indicating that rising inflation has still not had an unfavourable affect on the quantum of disposable income allocated to telecommunications. Nigeria, Ghana, Iran and Cameroon ARPU`s remain robust not withstanding seasonal trends and increased penetration. Subscriber Numbers Jun-08 Sep-08 Quarterly % Contribution
change % Subs `000 Subs `000 SEA South Africa * 4% 72% 15,590 16,173 Post-paid 2% 12% 2,588 2,648 Pre-paid 4% 60% 13,002 13,525 Uganda 16% 14% 2,776 3,228 Mascom - Botswana 1% 4% 885 890 Rwanda 18% 4% 834 988 Swaziland 9% 2% 457 501 Zambia 29% 3% 453 582 Sub total 7% 28% 20,995 22,362 WECA Nigeria 9% 56% 18,565 20,171
Ghana 14% 16% 4,997 5,713 Cameroon 7% 9% 3,106 3,313
Cote d`Ivoire 7% 9% 3,030 3,243 Conakry 14% 3% 797 911
Benin 6% 2% 779 828 Congo - Brazzaville 58% 2% 522 823
Liberia 8% 1% 407 440 Bissau 6% 1% 303 323
Sub total 10% 44% 32,506 35,765 MENA Iran 11,593 13% 58% 13,139 Syria 2% 15% 3,375 3,458 Sudan 7% 10% 2,109 2,266 Yemen 5% 8% 1,725 1,812 Afghanistan 10% 8% 1,627 1,793 Cyprus 10% 1% 128 141 Sub total 10% 28% 20,557 22,609 Grand Total 9% 100% 74,058 80,736
ARPU Jun-08 Sep-08 Quarterly % change* YTD ARPU YTD ARPU
SEA South Africa ** R145 R147 1% Post-paid R405 R409 1% Pre-paid R92 R94 2% Uganda $9 $9 1% Mascom - Botswana $13 $13 0% Rwanda $11 $11 1% Swaziland $15 $15 0% Zambia $12 $12 -1% WECA Nigeria $16 $17 1% Ghana $14 $13 -9% Cameroon $12 $12 -2% Cote d`Ivoire $11 $11 -2% Benin $16 $17 1% Congo - Brazzaville $23 $20 -13% Conakry $10 $10 -1% Liberia $16 $14 -8% Bissau $12 $11 -3% MENA Syria $19 $20 2% Iran $9 $9 -1% Yemen $8 $8 -1% Sudan $7 $7 -5% Afghanistan $6 $6 -1% Cyprus $45 $46 1% * %`s are based on actual and not rounded figures Subscribers are customers who have participated in a revenue generating activity in the last 90 days. ARPU is the monthly weighted average revenue per subscriber. Revenue includes interconnect fees and excludes connection fees and visitor roaming revenue, and this is divided by the weighted average subscriber base over the period. ** South Africa subscribers and ARPU`s include community service payphones into pre-paid and application providers into post-paid. 31 October 2008 Sponsor Merrill Lynch South Africa (Pty) Limited Date: 31/10/2008 09:02:18 Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za Produced by the JSE SENS Department. The SENS service is an information dissemination service administered by the JSE Limited (`JSE`). The JSE does not, whether expressly, tacitly or implicitly, represent, warrant or in any way guarantee the truth, accuracy or completeness of the information published on SENS. The JSE, their officers, employees and agents accept no liability for (or in respect of) any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind or nature, howsoever arising, from the use of SENS or the use of, or reliance on, information disseminated through SENS.

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