The Vodafone group continues to grow in Europe and in Africa and Asia-Pacific; the performance in Italy shines, driving the growth of the Arpu with 3% against 1,8% in Germany, 0,8% in Spain and a decrease of 3,2% in the UK. These are the data presented in the third quarter ended 31 December 2016.
Vodafone has long since embarked on the path of innovation and is reaping the benefits with 4G driving data growth with an increase of 7,7 million total customers to 64,6 million and a 53% increase in data volumes. And it is precisely from Italy and Spain that the greatest impetus comes with 417.000 additional customers in the term.
Il group turnover stood at 13,7 billion euros and revenues from services of 12,3 billion euros.
Group continues to show strong growth in organic services revenues – +1.7% overall; + 0,7% in Europe and + 3,9% in the AMAP area (Africa, Middle East, Asia Pacific) – against group revenues down by 3,9% overall and by 4,6% in Europe and 2,4% in the Amap. A difference which, explains the company's press release, discounts the negative impact of 4 percentage points due to "movements in foreign exchange rates".
“Our overall performance in Europe and Africa remained strong in the third quarter,” comments themanaging director Vittorio Colao which underlines how “in Europe the growth in revenues from services continues, led by Italy, Germany and Spain. We expect intense competitive pressure in India in the fourth quarter and as previously announced we have entered into discussions with the Aditya Birla Group for a merger of Vodafone India and Idea. We reconfirm – concludes Colao – our 'guidance' for the year”. Vodafone expects to reach the lower end of its Ebitd target and free cash flow target for the full financial year, with uncertainty in the Indian market mitigated by sustained performance in Europe and In Africa.
Coming to the performance in Italy, Vodafone consolidates growth in revenues from services (+3%). The total value is 1,33 billion with a true boom in revenues from fixed network services (+11,9%) equal to 225 million euros, and fixed broadband customers (+11,1%), which rise to 2,1 million, with 70.000 new fixed broadband customers in the quarter. Well there too growth of mobile services (+1,4%) supported by a 56% increase in data traffic, the positive performance of the business segment and the leap in 4G customers, which grew by a further million in the quarter alone, to 8,3 million.
The coverage of the 4G network in Italy, concludes the Vodafone note, exceeds 97% of the population in over 6.700 municipalities, of which 1.000 in 4G+. Fiber services are available in 444 Italian cities, and reach 11 million households and businesses. Finally, the partnership with Open Fiber, in addition to Milan, Bologna and Turin, is now commercially active in Perugia, and the other cities covered by the agreement will soon follow.
