Singtel’s regional mobile subscriber base exceeds 136 million
Fifth straight quarter of record subscriber growth
Bharti and Singtel set new benchmarks in subscriber numbers
Singapore, 13 August 2007 -- Singapore Telecommunications Limited (Singtel) today announced that the aggregate number of mobile subscribers in the region, including its associates, reached 136.35 million as at 30 June 2007. This is the largest mobile customer base in Asia outside of China.
It is the fifth straight quarter that the combined mobile subscriber base of Singtel, Singtel Optus and the Group’s five regional associates has increased at a record pace. Compared to the previous quarter, the increase was 12.6 million customers.
On a year-on-year basis, the mobile subscriber base grew strongly by 48 per cent, or 44 million subscribers, from about 92 million customers.
On a proportionate to shareholding basis, Singtel’s subscriber base in the seven markets – Australia, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand – increased 41 per cent from a year ago to 50 million.
Among the associates, Bharti and Telkomsel again posted the largest subscriber growth rates.
As at 30 June 2007, Bharti added yet another record 5.6 million net mobile subscribers to bring its total mobile subscriber base to 42.7 million. On a year-on-year basis, its number of subscribers surged by 85 per cent or 19.6 million. Its rapid growth has made Bharti one of the fastest companies to join the exclusive list of Top 10 Global Telecom Operators with more than 40 million subscribers from a single country.
Telkomsel added 3.9 million in net new subscribers in the quarter. Its total mobile subscriber base of 42.8 million is an increase of 46 per cent compared to a year ago. The number of its 3G mobile subscribers also grew strongly by 31 per cent from a quarter ago to reach 2.8 million as at 30 June 2007.
The Singtel Group continued to do well in the more mature markets.
In the quarter, Singtel Optus successfully defended its market position in Australia and added 65,000 mobile customers. Its mobile customer base reached 6.80 million, a 3.8 per cent increase compared to a year ago.
In Singapore, Singtel’s mobile subscriber base grew to 1.95 million, a new benchmark. During the quarter, it also saw a jump of 124,000 mobile subscribers largely from the record addition of 108,000 prepaid mobile subscribers.
The number of Singtel 3G subscribers rose by 17 per cent to 544,000 compared to the previous quarter. The growth reflected the availability of more attractive 3G handsets at affordable prices.
At a glance
|
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Aggregate Subscriber Base
(million)
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Singtel’s Proportionate
Subscriber Base (million)
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||||
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Jun 07
|
Mar 07
|
Jun 06
|
Jun 07
|
Mar 07
|
Jun 06
|
|
Optus
|
6.80
|
6.74
|
6.56
|
6.80
|
6.74
|
6.56
|
|
Singtel
|
1.95
|
1.82
|
1.62
|
1.95
|
1.82
|
1.62
|
|
Singtel’s regional associates
|
127.60
|
115.23
|
84.24
|
41.27
|
37.34
|
27.39
|
|
Total
|
136.35
|
123.79
|
92.42
|
50.01
|
45.90
|
35.57
|
More details of the performance of the seven mobile operations will be available when Singtel announces its results for the quarter ended 30 June 2007 on 14 August 2007.
