Vodafone Group, the world's largest mobile phone company by revenue, topped market forecasts today with robust third quarter revenues on the back of strong emerging markets and mobile data growth.
In a trading statement, Vodafone said its revenues rose to £9.2 billion sterling, with organic growth of 4.4%. This compared to expectations of 3.5 to 4% growth. Its global customer base now stands at about 252.3 million.
In its fast growing EMAPA regions - eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific - organic revenue growth surged to 13.7%. Mobile data revenue rose by 41.5%, with growth of just 2% in its mature European markets.
Vodafone said that its Irish operations added 48,000 new customers in the last three months of 2007, bringing its subscriber base here to 2.265 million. Irish customers spent a total of 1,543,000 minutes talking on Vodafone phones in the last quarter of 2007, up from 1,517,000 minutes in the previous quarter.
Average monthly revenues per user fell to €43.9 from €45.6 the same time the previous year. Irish mobile ARPUs have been falling due to competition.
The parent company repeated its current year outlook but noted that revenues might benefit from exchange rate movements.
'There have been significant recent movements in exchange rates, notably a strengthening of the euro,' the company said in its trading statement.
'Should these persist, this would have a favourable impact on the group's financial performance, particularly with respect to revenue,' it added. Over 50% of the company's operating profits are generated in euro.
