Three Ireland breaks even and sees 18% growth in customers in six months

Customer numbers jumped by almost 18% at Three Ireland during the first half of 2013, with the mobile communications company also reaching break-even point — on an EBITDA basis — for the first time in its eight year history.

Yesterday’s interim update continues a trend of positive newsflow from the network provider over the past few months. Just over a month ago, Three announced that it had reached agreement to buy rival, O2 Ireland for €850m, a deal which is expected to formally conclude by the end of this year, or early 2014 at the latest — depending on competition approval — and will make the enlarged Three the second largest player in the Irish market, behind Vodafone.

In March, Three Ireland reported annual revenues of €174m for 2012, an increase of 16% and a market share rise from 7.7% to 9%. It also said that it had slashed its full-year losses by over 30% to €19m.