China Telecom grows FY mobile revenues 42%

China Telecom reported 2012 revenues up 15.5 percent to CNY 283.07 billion. Mobile revenues improved 42.5 percent to CNY 117.83 billion, and wireline revenues were up 1.8 percent to CNY 162.37 billion. EBITDA, including network leasing fees, fell 6.0 percent to CNY 96.39 billion. China Telecom recently completed the acquisition of its main mobile network assets and said it expects profitability to improve once the leasing fees end. The operator's net profit for the year was down 9.5 percent to CNY 14.93 billion or CNY 0.18 per share, hurt by extra costs for launching the iPhone and expanding in the high end of the market. 

Helped by investments in 3G, mobile service revenues were up 36 percent last year to CNY 92.8 billion. The operator added a net 34.15 million new mobile subscribers for a total 161 million at year-end. 3G subscribers grew by 32.76 million and accounted for 43 percent of the customer base. China Telecom estimates its mobile subscriber market share was about 15 percent, while the 3G subscriber market share reached 30 percent. 

The company also invested in its fixed broadband network last year, including the fibre cities project. This helped fixed internet revenues grow 10 percent to CNY 67.8 billion, and the fixed broadband customer base increased by 13.31 million to over 90 million.

After a 39.4 percent drop in free cash flow last year to CNY 12.36 billion, China Telecom left its dividend unchanged at HKD 0.085 per share. It forecast an increase in capex this year to CNY 75 billion from CNY 72.5 billion in 2012.