TELUS Q3 Results: Subscribers base reach 5.98 million

TELUS has reported their Q3 results and the past was friendly also. Specifically for wireless… here is a summary:

– External revenues increased by $96.5 million or 8.7% to $1.2 billion in the third quarter of 2008

– Wireless data revenue increased $65 million or 56% due to the continued adoption of full function smartphones and increased adoption of data services such as text messaging and e-mail

– ARPU (average revenue per subscriber unit per month) declined by 1% to $64.14 compared to the same quarter a year ago, but was up sequentially from the second quarter of 2008 by $1.41. The fast-growing data component of $10.19, represented 16% of ARPU, while the voice component continued to decline as a result of pricing pressure, lower Mike service ARPU, use of included-minute rate plans, subscriber loading from the new basic Koodo Mobile service and lower inbound roaming

– Total wireless subscriber base reached the 6 million milestone (5.98 million to be exact). Normalized net subscriber additions increased by 32% to 176,900 from the same quarter in 2007, a TELUS third quarter record. Postpaid net additions were 158,500, an increase of 61%, while net prepaid loading decreased to 18,400. When including the impact of the analogue network turndown, net additions increased 11% to 149,300. These results include those from TELUS’ postpaid Koodo service launched in March 2008

– Cost of acquisition per gross addition decreased 10% year-over-year to $341 reflecting slightly higher advertising and promotions costs spread over the 23% increase in gross additions, a higher proportion of new subscribers from lower cost distribution channels and efficient marketing spending on a per-unit basis

– Normalized blended monthly subscriber churn increased slightly to 1.52% from 1.43% a year ago, excluding 27,600 deactivations from the analogue network turndown this quarter