The April-September semester of is archived Vodafone Italy, which closed with revenues for 2,619 billion euros, an increase of 1,7% compared to the same semester of the previous year, driven by an increase in ARPU (average revenues per unit), both in the mobile segment and in the fixed segment. The improvement trend in revenues continues, with an acceleration in the second quarter (Q1: +1,2% , Q2: +2,2%).
The lion's share goes to revenues from mobile services, +1,5% to 2,191 billion euros, supported by the positive results in the prepaid consumer segment, the 54% increase in mobile data consumption, and the growth in the number of 4G customers reaching 7,3 million (+3,3 million compared to the same half of the previous year).
Revenues from fixed network services amounted to 428 million euros (+2,6%). The growth of fixed broadband customers continues (+9,6%), which amount to over 2 million. In the half year, almost half of the new customers chose Vodafone's fiber services.
Also on the increase margini: EBITDA grew by 10,3% in the first half, faster than the growth in revenues, and stood at 1,104 billion euro, equal to 36,7% of total revenues, up by 2,6%.
The coverage of the 4G network reaches 96% of the population in over 6.700 municipalities, of which 924 in 4G+. Fiber services are available in 377 Italian cities and reach 10 million households and businesses. They are data as of 30 September but have further improved as of 31 October 2016 when 4G coverage reached 97% of the population in 6.736 municipalities, of which 1.000 in 4G+. Fiber services are available in 404 Italian cities and reach 10,3 million households and businesses.
Vodafone Group it closed the April-September period with revenues down 3,9% to 27,05 billion euros. The group recorded an operating loss of 4,7 billion euros against a profit of 1,11 billion in the corresponding six months of the previous year.
The net result for the six months goes from a loss of 2,34 to one of 5 billion euros. A 6,375 billion euro gross write-down charge linked to investments in India and from which derives a 1,375 billion euro tax credit weighed on the results: the effect is that of a 5 billion euro reduction in Vodafone's book value India.
Looking in more detail, revenues from services up by 2,3% to 27,05 billion on a like-for-like basis and excluding the exchange rate effect (otherwise down by 3,9% due to the impact of currencies). In the second quarter alone the organic growth of the group, which is based in London, is 2,4%, thanks to improvements in Europe (+1%) and Africa, Middle East, Asia Pacific (+7,1%). Organic Ebitda for the six months increased by 4,3% to 7,9 billion, thanks to strong cost control, while Ebitda fell by 1,7% in the period if the exchange rate effect is considered. In the light of the results the board proposes an interim dividend of 4,74 cents per share (+1,9%), in line with the objective of increasing the coupon for the entire year.
Il CEO of the Vittorio Colao group reports that “We have further improved our performance in the first half of the financial year with Europe slightly above our expectations – led by Germany and Italy – and a good performance in the Amap area” (Africa, Middle East, Asia Pacific).
