Vodafone still well despite 4% hit

VODAFONE shares took a near 4% hit yesterday on fears of increased competition, despite doubling dividend payments and unveiling a €6.54bn share buyback programme.

But the world’s largest mobile phone operator continues to do well in Ireland, generating record average revenue per user (ARPU) figures here. But it is losing the growth battle to stiff competition from O2 and Meteor. Vodafone now has 1,952,000 Irish customers.

And the company is to create 100 new jobs at its Leopardstown HQ at a call centre for its international customers.