Bell’s third-quarter 2015 financial results topped analysts wireless subscriber number estimates by a small margin – 255 subscribers to be exact.
The report indicates that Bell added 77,655 new postpaid wireless customers, surpassing estimates of 77,400. Total Bell wireless customers grew 1.8 percent to reach 8,183,367. Bell also noted that 78 percent of postpaid customers now have a smartphone, up 3 percent from last quarter. Blended ARPU (average revenue per user) increased to $65.34, a jump of 6.1 percent, which was “driven by a higher percentage of customers on 2-year contracts, increased data usage on the LTE network, and a greater mix of postpaid customers.”
The company’s results also reveal Bell’s revenues rose 2.9 percent to $5.35 billion in the third-quarter of 2015, up from $5.2 billion in the previous year. The company’s adjusted earnings increased 12 percent and its operating revenues 2.9 percent when compared with the same fiscal quarter in 2014.
“Bell’s strong momentum in the growth services of communications delivered positive Adjusted EBITDA across our Wireless, Wireline and Media segments and significant increases in earnings per share and cash flow,” said George Cope, president and chief executive officer of BCE and Bell, in a statement to MobileSyrup.
“Our strategy of leading investment in Canada’s broadband networks and service innovation, combined with strong execution by the national Bell team, continues to deliver exceptional financial and operating results.”
Bell’s LTE network, which the company claims is the largest and fastest in Canada, has accelerated smartphone usage and wireless revenue for the company. Bell also credits CraveTV and TV Everywhere Go for increased subscriber growth in terms of the company’s television offerings.
In comparison, Rogers Communications, also surpassed new wireless subscriber estimates when the company reported its financial results back in October and reached a total wireless subscriber base of 9.82 million. Vancouver-based Telus added 69,000 new wireless subs for a total of 8,421,000.
In terms of specific subscriber numbers, Bell says it has added 68,000 IPTV customers as well as 58,000 new high-speed internet subscribers. The company says it is now Canada’s largest TV provider with over 2.7 million subscribers across Canada, a 3.9 percent increase over last year.
[source] Bell [/source]
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