Orange France revenues fall to EUR 5.66 bln in Q4

Orange France reported revenues down 3.7 percent to EUR 5.66 billion in the fourth quarter of 2011, including personal communication services down 0.1 percent to EUR 2.78 billion and home communication services down 4.6 percent to EUR 3.22 billion. Excluding MVNO customers, Orange France had 27.09 million mobile subscribers at the end of December 2011, compared to 26.59 million at the end of September. The operator's contract customer base rose to 19.45 million from 19.26 million over the same period. Total mobile ARPU fell to EUR 375 in the fourth quarter of 2011, compared to EUR 379 in the third quarter. MVNO customers on Orange France's network increased to 3.35 million at the end of 2011 from 3.24 million at the end of the third quarter. Orange France's fixed line consumer subscriber base fell to 18.55 million at the end of 2011 from 18.72 million three months earlier, with an annual rolling fixed line ARPU stable at EUR 34.60 per month. Broadband subscribers grew to 9.6 million in the fourth quarter from 9.48 million in the third quarter, including 9.48 million ADSL and 95,000 FTTH, up from 9.37 million and 82,000 at the end of the third quarter. IPTV and satellite customers to 4.37 million at the end of 2011 from 4.12 million in the third quarter. The operator had 11.43 million wholesale lines, up on 11.14 million at the end of September, including 8.89 million in full unbundling, 1.12 million in bitstream naked DSL and 1.43 million in wholesale line rental. For 2011, Orange France reported revenues down 3.3 percent to EUR 22.54 billion. Restated EBITDA decreased by 6.9 percent to EUR 8.65 billion. Capex rose 1.7 percent on a comparable basis to EUR 2.62 billion due to a significant increase in investment related to customer ADSL equipment, the development of optical fibre and the growth of investment in customer relations IT systems.