Singtel Group’s mobile customer base expands to 424 million

• Singtel Singapore grows market share
• Optus postpaid base reaches 5 million 

Singapore, 9 November 2011 – Singapore Telecommunications Limited (Singtel) today announced that the Group posted another quarter of strong mobile customer additions. The Group’s total mobile customer base increased 15 per cent or 56 million from a year ago to reach 424 million as at 30 September 2011. 

 * Proportionate share of mobile customers represents the total number of mobile customers of an associate multiplied by the Group’s effective percentage ownership in the associate at the respective dates.

Airtel’s total mobile customer base across its operations in South Asia and Africa grew 21 per cent or 39.3 million from a year ago to 227 million as at 30 September 2011. Its mobile customer base in India reached 173 million, an increase of 21 per cent or 29.5 million from a year ago. 

Airtel’s mobile customer base in Africa grew 21 per cent or 8.4 million from a year ago to 48.4 million. In the quarter, it secured licenses to operate 2G and 3G mobile services in Rwanda, one of the fastest growing telecom markets across Africa, expanding its footprint in Africa to 17 countries.

Telkomsel added 1.9 million mobile customers from a quarter ago. Its total mobile customer base grew 12 per cent or 11 million from a year ago and stood at 104 million as at 30 September 2011. 

Telkomsel continued to enhance its network, deploying 1,400 base stations in the quarter. In October 2011, it also forged a partnership with Skype, the first of its kind in Southeast Asia, to offer its mobile customers exclusive access to Skype applications on selected smartphones.

Optus continues growth momentum as postpaid base reaches 5 million

Optus continued its customer growth momentum with net postpaid additions of 116,000 from a quarter ago and the total postpaid customer base exceeded 5 million. Postpaid customers comprised 54 per cent of the total base, up 4 per cent from a year ago.

Prepaid customers returned to growth this quarter with net additions of 15,000 as sales lifted and the churn rates on ‘International Calls for Less’ plans improved. 

The number of 3G customers increased to 5.96 million, a 13 per cent increase from a quarter ago. This included a base of 1.46 million wireless broadband customers, an increase of approximately 94,000 customers from a quarter ago. 

Total mobile customers grew by 131,000 to 9.23 million, up 4 per cent from a year ago.

Singtel Singapore continues to grow market share

Singtel added 71,000 mobile customers from a quarter ago. Its total mobile customer base grew 10 per cent or 321,000 from a year ago to 3.49 million as at 30 September 2011. 

It achieved another quarter of market share gains. Market share increased to 45.5 per cent[1] from 44.1 per cent a year ago. 

In the postpaid segment, 40,000 customers were added this quarter, bringing the total postpaid customer base to 1.87 million, and up from 1.68 million a year ago. The 11 per cent year-on-year growth was driven by strong demand for smartphones and the increased take-up of data SIMs for integrated mobile broadband bundles and tablets.

Singtel added 31,000 prepaid customers this quarter, led by positive customer response to successful 3G prepaid offerings such as the 3G SIM card, as well as data and Blackberry value added services. Its total prepaid customer base grew 8.9 per cent from a year ago and reached 1.62 million as at 30 September 2011.

More information on the performance of the Singtel Group will be available on 10 November 2011 when it announces its results for the second quarter ended 30 September 2011.

[1] Mobile market share based on IDA latest available published statistics as of 31 August 2011.