Vodacom increased its group revenue by 10,5% to R20,219-billion for the quarter ended 31 December 2013.
Group service revenue increased 6,4% to R16 248, up 3,4% on a normalised basis and in line with guidance. Group data revenue increased 40,7% to R3 611-million, and is now 22,2% of service revenue.
Group active customers grew 12,3% to 56-million and active data customers grew 27,9% to 23,7-million.
South Africa service revenue grew 0,6% (3,4% excluding MTR’s) driven by data revenue growth of 31,2% as we stimulate usage through our pricing transformation strategy and handset financing programme.
International service revenue up 32,6% (15,1 %) supported by strong customer growth as we continued to expand network, improve distribution and offer attractive bundles.
Group CEO Shameel Joosub comments: “We continue to gain ground commercially with a 12,3% increase in Group customers to 56.0-million and 3,4% underlying growth in
Group service revenue driven by data revenue growth of 40,7%.
“This quarter highlights once again that our strategy of sustained network investment is key to allow us to grow our overall business while still driving down the cost to communicate.
“In South Africa as an example, we have continued with our pricing transformation to drive the adoption of price plans that offer more value to customers which has reduced the prepaid average price per minute by 25,3% to 56 cents and the average effective price per Mb of data by 16,2%.
“Despite this significant pricing movement, service revenue in South Africa grew 0,6% with lower prices offset by 23,3% higher voice traffic and a 31,2% growth in data revenue. The number of smartphones on our network in South Africa is now 7,2-million up 600 000 from the previous quarter and the average amount of data used by each smartphone increased 83,5% to 254 Mb per month.
“Our International operations have also continued to respond well to our network investment strategy and the revamp of our commercial offerings with service revenue growth of 32,6% (15,1%). International active customers increased 22,8% to 25.0-million, which is 44,7% of our overall Group active customers.
“Data revenue more than doubled with data traffic now three times higher than a year ago. We are also achieving strong uptake of M-Pesa services. The international businesses continue to make an increasingly significant contribution to the Group.”