Mixed fortunes for Telekom Austria

Growth in TV numbers and fixed broadband subscribers failed to compensate lower fixed-voice revenues for Telekom Austria in the third quarter, the domestic revenues falling by 3.5% year-on-year thanks largely to a fall in interconnection and equipment sales.

Telekom Austria had 243,900 TV customers in Austria at the end of September, up 6.1% year-on-year. The operator said that higher revenues from monthly fees helped to keep monthly fee and traffic revenues stable despite the fact that higher fixed broadband lines and TV subscribers could not compensate lower fixed voice revenues.

In Croatia, Telekom Austria’s local subsidiary had 163,400 TV subscribers at the end of the quarter up 3.4% year-on-year. In Bulgaria, the operator’s local subsidiary had 80,700 subscribers, up 7.5%.

Overall, international subsidiaries – particularly Belarus – helped boost the operator’s performance. Q3 revenues were €1.049 billion, up 1.2%, and operating income was €200 million, up 64.7%.

Separately, Telekom Austria has agreed to merge its Macedonian mobile operator Vip Operatorv with Telekom Slovenije Group’s One.

One claims to be third largest mobile network operator in Macedonia with a market share of 23.6%, while Telekom Austria has been offering mobile services in the country via Vip Operator since 2007 and claims 28.1% of the market.

Following the acquisition of blizoo Macedonia in July 2014, Telekom Austria Group now also offers fixed-line TV, internet and telephony services in the Macedonian market.