Digicel Group reports ‘another strong quarter’

DIGICEL Group which operates in 30 markets in the Caribbean, El Salvador and the Pacific has reported strong results for the quarter to end December 2010.

In the three-month period the Denis O’Brien-owned group reported sales were up 32% to US$580 million (€421.5m) against the same period in 2009.

EBITDA, (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) were also up 32% to a record $240m (€174.4m) the group said — it does not give its pre-tax profit.

The figures show subscriber numbers continued to expand and were up by 7% to 11.5 million in the period under review.

Digicel continues to perform well across its area of operations and has seen growth in all of its major markets including El Salvador, Haiti, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea and Trinidad and Tobago, the group said.

Digicel’s chief executive, Colm Delves, said he was happy to report “another very strong quarter” to the end of last year.

The company “outperformed its industry peers with strong revenue growth and robust margins,” he said.

“We remain committed to ensuring our customers benefit from best value, service and network — and in our ongoing efforts to give back to our communities,” he said.

During the quarter the group launched its mobile money services in Haiti under the ‘Tcho Tcho’ Mobile brand and an award of the “first to market” grant of US$2.5m from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Its 3G+ service in the French West Indies also went into operation.