Liberty Latin America (LLA) reported revenues of USD 1.19 billion in the third quarter, up 34 percent year on year on customer additions and the contribution of newly-acquired assets in Puerto Rico above all. Adjusted operating profits (OIBDA) climbed 24 percent including the group’s new assets. LLA said revenues excluding assets acquired since the year-earlier period were up 3 percent compared to Q3 2020, with OIBDA coming in flat on an organic basis.
LLA’s overall customer base across all units was up 1 percent year on year on an organic basis to 3.25 million, with total revenue generating units (RGUs) rising 83,800 in the third quarter alone. The company said Panama had a particularly strong performance, adding more subscribers in the third quarter than the first half of the year thanks to broadband-led convergent plans, while Cable & Wireless Caribbean added 49,000 fixed and mobile RGUs in the July to September period, driven by continued growth in Jamaica.
In mobile, the group grew its base by 74,000 subscribers, with postpaid representing around half of the additions. In total, LLA had 7.29 million mobile customers at the end of September, including its newly-acquired assets in Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and Costa Rica.
Looking ahead, LLA confirmed full-year guidance for adjusted free cash flow of around USD 200 million and said it was aiming to install or upgrade around 700,000 homes using fibre technologies. It also said it expects both its acquisition of America Movil’s Panama business and a 50-50 joint venture with Claro in Chile to close next year.
