Go

Strong half year results Vodafone Netherlands

13 November 2007

Maastricht, 13 November 2007 - Vodafone Netherlands has delivered a strong performance in the first half of its financial year, which ended 30 September 2007. With double digit growth in EBITDA Vodafone Netherlands further strengthens its no. 2 position in the Dutch market. Highlights are:

  • Service revenue of EUR 896 million (YoY growth of 6%, equivalent to underlying growth  of 11%)
  • EBITDA of EUR 315 million (YoY growth of 23%)
  • Blended ARPU of EUR 38.40 per month with postpaid ARPU of EUR 59.70  and prepaid ARPU of EUR 10.70
  • Customer base of 3,892,000 of which 2,225,000 were postpaid customers (postpaid share up 7 ppts)
  • Voice minutes of 3,905 million (YoY growth of 11%)

Guy Laurence, CEO of Vodafone Netherlands: "Our consistent customer focus across all levels of the company and our ambition to deliver carefree products and services have led to an excellent financial performance with substantial growth in most areas. We are outgrowing the market and clearly underlining our number 2 position in this fiercely competitive marketplace. Being part of the global Vodafone family enables us to continuously take the lead in areas such as roaming and data services providing our customers with the best deals available in the Dutch market."
Examples are:

  • The successful Vodafone Passport proposition was expanded. Turkey has been added to the Passport footprint, bringing this to a total of 42 countries. Free tariff information and free deposit of voicemails has made customers’ life easier. The startup fee was lowered to 79 eurocents.
  • Data roaming fees for internet on mobile phones were reduced by 75% and a data calculator was introduced to provide transparency for customers.
  • The Eurotariff for consumer voice roaming was made available to Vodafone Netherlands customers as of 29 August, a month prior to the mandatory date.
  • A flat fee of EUR 7.50 per month was introduced for watching TV on your mobile. Public channels Ned 1, 2 and 3 have been added, as well as RTL4 and SBS6, bringing the total to an unrivalled package of over 20 channels, live channels as well as TV on demand.
  • The BloX formula, enabling consumer customers to temporarily add value options when they need them, has proven very successful and a Mobile Internet BloX for EUR 9.50 a month has been added. Vodafone is the only operator in the Dutch market to offer its customers the highest network speed available for the same monthly BloX fee. Google™ Search and Startpagina make it easy for Vodafone customers to surf the web on their mobile.
  • Vodafone introduced fixed calling and internet access for consumers as a pilot before the summer, with a full launch in September. Fixed internet access for enterprise customers was launched in September through Vodafone’s subsidiary TNF.
  • For enterprise customers Vodafone expanded its portfolio with more handheld business devices of all the leading brands, e.g. with Windows Mobile Email, propositions like BlackBerry Express and tools for businesses to manage their own ‘mobile fleet’.
  • Global partnerships with brands like Google, Microsoft and YouTube resulted in new features on mobile such as Google Search, Instant Messaging and YouTube videos.
  • Sales and self care on Vodafone.nl is growing fast and the website attracts over 1.2 million unique visitors every month, an increase of over 50% compared to last year.

About Vodafone Libertel B.V.:
Vodafone is one of the largest mobile communications companies in the Netherlands and is part of the Vodafone Group, the world’s leading international communications group with equity interests in 25 countries across 5 continents and 241 million proportionate customers at the end of September 2007, as well as 39 partner networks.