Successful first half-year for Orange Switzerland - Reached the milestone of a million customers
Lausanne (ots)
During the first half-year 2003 Orange Communications SA, Lausanne, realized a result of 120 (33) million Swiss francs prior to interest, tax and writing-off. This increased the operational result (EBITDA) by 264% compared with the same period last year. The number of customers surpassed one million for the first time and reached 1,003,000 (+14.6%) by the end of June 2003.
The total revenue in the first half-year amounted to 573 (474) million Swiss francs, representing an increase of 20.9%. Bucking the industry trend, the average monthly revenue per customer even showed a slight increase of 89 Swiss francs. This is due, on the one hand, to the growth in serving business customers and, on the other hand, to a significant rise in mobile data communication.
Satisfied customers
Both the "Telekommunikation 2003" survey undertaken by the TagesAnzeiger and the "Bilanz Telekom Rating Schweiz" show that satisfaction among Orange's business and private customers is exceptionally high. Orange puts this down to, among other things, the much improved efficiency since last year, which has turned Orange into a solid, sound and successful company. Thanks to more flexible and direct procedures, high customer expectations can be met better and more easily.
"In Switzerland we have focused on quality right from the outset. That has lead to a high level of satisfaction among our customers", says Andreas S. Wetter, CEO Orange Communications SA. "We will continue with this strategy, extending our network further and launching innovative offers and services."
Prospects
Orange anticipates that revenue per customer will increase further and that the number of customers in both the private and business customer segments will rise again in the second half-year 2003. This makes the management look forward with confidence to a successful year end 2003.
Overview of the half-yearly figures
on 30 June 2002 on 30 June 2003 Variation Active Customers 988'000 (1) 1'003'000 + 14.6% (1) Total Revenue CHF 474 Mio. CHF 573 Mio. + 20.9% EBITDA(2) CHF 33 Mio. CHF 120 Mio. + 264%
(1) At the end of 2002, Orange Switzerland's clientele was, for
the first time, calculated exclusively on the basis of active
customers. The respective active customer base at the end of
the first half-year 2002 is estimated to be 875,000 customers,
and growth is estimated at 14.6% compared with the previous
half-year.(2) Result prior to interest, tax and writing-off
Contact:
Therese Wenger
Media Relations
Tel. +41/21/216'10'16
Fax +41/21/216'10'15
Mobile: +41/78/787'10'16
E-mail: therese.wenger@orange.ch
Internet: http://www.orange.ch
Orange Communications SA
World Trade Center
Av. de Gratta-Paille 2
PO Box 455
CH-1000 Lausanne 30 Grey