Telecompaper

Japanese mobile operator NTT Docomo saw its profits and revenue slip in the second quarter ended 30 September, and has revised its full year guidance. Revenues fell 3.3 percent to JPY 1.06 trillion, compared with JPY 1.09 trillion in the year-ago quarter, and operating income totalled JPY 233.4 billion, down 14.5 percent from JPY 271.7 billion. NTT Docomo recorded a net income of JPY 137.3 billion, down by 20.7 percent from JPY 173.1 billion in the second quarter last year. The operator ended the period with 55.19 million mobile subscribers, up 2.3 percent year-on-year. Blended ARPU was JPY 5,420 compared with JPY 5,860 in the year earlier period. Voice ARPU was JPY 2,970, down 13.9 percent, and packet ARPU was JPY 2,450, up by 1.7 percent. Due to competition and the entry on the market of MVNOs, NTT Docomo has revised its full year guidance downwards. The operator now expects operating revenues of JPY 4.28 trillion, down by JPY 106 billion from the previous forecast, mainly due to lower equipment sales which is only partially offset by increased service revenues from subscribers. Due to lower expenses, the forecast for operating income remains unchanged at JPY 380 billion.