Eir hails pivotal year for growth

Eir has hailed a significant milestone in revenues and earnings growth and predicted that questions hanging over its future ownership or plans for an IPO of its shares on stock markets will likely subside for the next few years at least.

Announcing a 4% growth in revenues to over €1.3bn in the year and an underlying 5% increase in Ebitda — earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation, to €505m, the telecoms firm said it was starting to make inroads into the retail broadband market.

However, it said it continues to talk with the Department of Communications about clarifying the extent of the tender of rural areas to be reached under the National Broadband Plan.