Iliad meets goal to become Europe's 5th largest telecoms operator
Adds context and comments on market consolidation in paragraphs 4-6, H1 revenue in paragraph 8
By Gianluca Lo Nostro and Stephanie Hamel
Aug 29 (Reuters) -France's Iliad said on Thursday it had reached its goal to become Europe's fifth largest telecoms operator by the number of customers, after it recorded 50 million total subscribers in the first half of 2024.
The group, which already was the fifth biggest fixed broadband operator in Europe, has been aiming to bring in more retail mobile subscribers.
"We now count 50 million subscribers in France, Poland and Italy, and as many as 61 million with our investment in Swedish operator Tele2," CEO Thomas Reynaud said in a statement.
Iliad in February bought a nearly 20% stake in Tele2 TEL2b.ST from investment firm Kinnevik KINVb.ST for around $1.3 billion, becoming its largest shareholder.
The unlisted group, founded and majority owned by French billionaire Xavier Niel, has been pushing for consolidation in the European telecommunications space, including a failed bid to merge its Italian operations with those of Vodafone VOD.L in January. Vodafone later sold its Italian business to Swisscom SCMN.S.
Reynaud said during a press call that consolidation in Italy was not something Iliad was actively pursuing anymore, and its focus was now on expanding its share in the country's fixed-line market.
Iliad's earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation after leases (EBITDAaL) - a core operating earnings measure used by many European telecom companies - grew 13.2% to 1.86 billion euros ($2.07 billion) in the first six months of 2024.
The operator also stood by its annual revenue target of 10 billion euros, after reporting 10.3% growth to 4.9 billion euros in the first half.
In France, where it operates under the Free brand, Iliad now has 22.8 million subscribers, while its second biggest market Poland recorded 15.3 million subscribers through mobile provider Play and cable operator UPC. In Italy, the total number of subscribers was 11.5 million at the end of June.
($1 = 0.9003 euros)
Reporting by Gianluca Lo Nostro and Stéphanie Hamel in Gdansk; editing by Milla Nissi
Mga Kaugnay na Asset
Pinakabagong Balita
Disclaimer: Ang mga kabilang sa XM Group ay nagbibigay lang ng serbisyo sa pagpapatupad at pag-access sa aming Online Trading Facility, kung saan pinapahintulutan nito ang pagtingin at/o paggamit sa nilalaman na makikita sa website o sa pamamagitan nito, at walang layuning palitan o palawigin ito, at hindi din ito papalitan o papalawigin. Ang naturang pag-access at paggamit ay palaging alinsunod sa: (i) Mga Tuntunin at Kundisyon; (ii) Mga Babala sa Risk; at (iii) Kabuuang Disclaimer. Kaya naman ang naturang nilalaman ay ituturing na pangkalahatang impormasyon lamang. Mangyaring isaalang-alang na ang mga nilalaman ng aming Online Trading Facility ay hindi paglikom, o alok, para magsagawa ng anumang transaksyon sa mga pinansyal na market. Ang pag-trade sa alinmang pinansyal na market ay nagtataglay ng mataas na lebel ng risk sa iyong kapital.
Lahat ng materyales na nakalathala sa aming Online Trading Facility ay nakalaan para sa layuning edukasyonal/pang-impormasyon lamang at hindi naglalaman – at hindi dapat ituring bilang naglalaman – ng payo at rekomendasyon na pangpinansyal, tungkol sa buwis sa pag-i-invest, o pang-trade, o tala ng aming presyo sa pag-trade, o alok para sa, o paglikom ng, transaksyon sa alinmang pinansyal na instrument o hindi ginustong pinansyal na promosyon.
Sa anumang nilalaman na galing sa ikatlong partido, pati na ang mga nilalaman na inihanda ng XM, ang mga naturang opinyon, balita, pananaliksik, pag-analisa, presyo, ibang impormasyon o link sa ibang mga site na makikita sa website na ito ay ibibigay tulad ng nandoon, bilang pangkalahatang komentaryo sa market at hindi ito nagtataglay ng payo sa pag-i-invest. Kung ang alinmang nilalaman nito ay itinuring bilang pananaliksik sa pag-i-invest, kailangan mong isaalang-alang at tanggapin na hindi ito inilaan at inihanda alinsunod sa mga legal na pangangailangan na idinisenyo para maisulong ang pagsasarili ng pananaliksik sa pag-i-invest, at dahil dito ituturing ito na komunikasyon sa marketing sa ilalim ng mga kaugnay na batas at regulasyon. Mangyaring siguruhin na nabasa at naintindihan mo ang aming Notipikasyon sa Hindi Independyenteng Pananaliksik sa Pag-i-invest at Babala sa Risk na may kinalaman sa impormasyong nakalagay sa itaas, na maa-access dito.
