Videotron adds 38,000 subs in Q3 as LTE rollout pushes ARPU higher

Videotron’s mobile division increased its upward momentum in the quarter ending September, improving subscriber numbers and ARPU on higher revenue.

Videotron added 38,000 wireless subs in the quarter, and 111,400 in the past year. Videotron has 589,000 total wireless customers. ARPU increased to $44.23, a 6.5% increase from a year ago, on “the success of our new value-added plans, featuring higher data caps at impressive speeds, as well as our optimal selection of mobile devices,” said CEO Manon Brouillette. ARPU is still significantly lower than its Big Three competitors, but has been steadily increasing as its postpaid demand for smartphones goes higher.

The company touted its recently-launched LTE network, which went live in the latter part of the quarter. The network covers 90% of Quebec’s population, and the collaboration with Rogers sees speeds up to 150Mbps.

During the conference call, Quebecor’s executive team referred to “discussions with WIND Mobile” on potential consolidation of the Canadian wireless space, but admitted nothing has been finalized. Quebecor wants to ensure that domestic roaming rates decrease enough, with a mandate from then CRTC, before expanding Videotron’s footprint beyond Quebec and Eastern Quebec.

[source]Quebecor[/source]