Telecompaper.com
Maroc Telecom Morocco said that the number of its customers declined slightly by 0.9 percent to 18.2 million year-on-year in the first quarter. The 1.7 percent decline in prepaid customers due to the prohibition on the sale of prepaid Sim cards imposed by regulators was offset by the growth of 8.9 percent in the number of postpaid customers, which took advantage of improved offers for calling times and data.
Revenues declined by 3.1 percent to MAD 5.11 billion, pulled down by the effects of declining earnings from mobile activities, despite the steady growth in Fixed and Internet activities, which lifted 10.3 percent. The combined ARPU stood at MAD 62.1, down 7.0 percent year-on-year. EBITDA was MAD 2.73 billion, down 8.1 percent, pulled lower by falling revenues, the increase in interconnection charges and the slight increase in operating costs.
The EBITDA margin was down 2.9 points but remains high at 53.4 percent. Earnings from operations were MAD 1.83 billion, down 12.7 percent. The reduction was related to the decline in EBITDA and the 2.7 percent increase in depreciation and amortization expenses due to major investment programs carried out over the past few years.
The EBITA margin stood at 35.8 percent. Cash flow from operations in Morocco was down 2.2 percent to MAD 1.85 billion, mainly due to the decline in EBITDA and despite the 13.4 percent decline in investments.
