02 profits up on the back of customer gains, higher usage

PROFITS at mobile phone operator O2 grew by 14% in the past year on the back of customer gains and higher usage.

The company said that operating profits grew by 14% to €232 million in the year to end March as its customer base jumped by 10% to just over 1.5 million subscribers. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of goodwill was up 9% to €329m.

Turnover the for the year grew by 13% to €859m, with just over a fifth of this figure coming from data services like text messaging.