Eircom reports fall in Q3 profits

EIRCOM has reported a fall in third-quarter profits despite newly-acquired mobile arm Meteor adding more than 100,000 customers.

Pre-tax profits in the three months to end December 2005 dropped to €24 million from €39m. The company said competition from rival phone operators and increased investment in broadband services were behind the decline in profits.

Revenues for the period were €424m, compared to €399m in the third quarter of 2004. The company said much of the increase was due to the inclusion of one month’s revenue from Meteor, which Eircom bought last year for €420m.