Bell reports Q2 results: Wireless subscriber base hits 7,283,847

Bell reported their Q2 results today and apart from the onslaught of numbers there’s something in the report that is new. The usual way of announcing results in the past was something like “we had a growth in data due to the increased adoption of smartphones from the iPhone, Android and BlackBerry”. This time Bell decided to go the route and inform Canadians about their “Superphone” devices by name dropping the Samsung Galaxy S II, HTC Sensation, the Motorola Atrix and the Motorola XT860. Not the biggest deal but a clear example that their focus on this category will continue to grow over the years. The current 4 Superphones are only the beginning…

Bell now has 7,283,847 subscribers, representing an increase of 4.2% over last year, but total wireless net subscriber activations have actually decreased for both Q2 and combined first half of 2011. Here are some highlights from the Q2 report that are worth noting:

– Total Bell Wireless operating revenues increased by 6.1% to $1,276 million.
– Wireless data revenue growth of 34%.
– Blended ARPU increased by $0.87 to $52.99
– Postpaid ARPU decreased by $0.48 to $63.18
– Prepaid ARPU decreased by $1.47 to $16.88
– Postpaid gross activations were 341,645 (13.7% higher than last year)
– Prepaid gross activations decreased by 26.0% to 133,255.
– Smartphones represented 56% of postpaid gross activations (41% last year).
– Postpaid net additions were 94,309 (fell 8.2% and now totals 5,716,326)
– Prepaid client base declined by 57,802 this quarter (now a total of 1,567,521)

Source: CNW