PARIS (Thomson Financial) - Maroc Telecom, 53 percent-owned by France's
Vivendi SA, said first-quarter sales rose 13.9 percent to 6.965 billion dirhams
boosted by an increase in sales of its mobile services.
The gains came "in the context of huge growth of mobile services, despite
the impact of the rise of cost of life, mainly food prices, in Maroc Telecom and
its subsidiaries' markets," said Maroc Telecom.
Maroc Telecom said mobile sales in Morocco grew 13.2 percent in the first
quarter to 4.295 billion dirhams.
"Customer base growth is still strong and Maroc Telecom has strengthened its
market share," the company said.
Fixed-line and internet sales for the first quarter edged up 0.9 percent to
2.347 billion dirhams.
The operator's consolidated operating income rose 9.1 percent to 3.104
billion dirhams.
In the group's Mauritanian unit, Mauritel, sales fell 4.7 percent to 255
million dirhams "mainly due to competition in the mobile market".
Onatel, based in Burkina Faso, saw a 7 percent increase in sales to 355
million dirhams, although Gabon Telecom's first-quarter sales were down 18
percent at 260 million dirhams as fixed-line revenues fell.
Mobisud, in France and Belgium, posted sales of 48 million dirhams.
helen.beresford@thomsonreuters.com
hem/slj
COPYRIGHT
Copyright Thomson Financial News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.
The copying, republication or redistribution of Thomson Financial News Content,
including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior
written consent of Thomson Financial News.
|