ZTE Devices Breakthrough

Telecoms equipment maker ZTE said its revenue rose 21.5% year-on-year in the first half of 2011 to 37.34 billion Chinese yuan (5.85 billion US dollars). Revenues in China rose 6.8% to 16.53 billion yuan, while international revenue soared 36.4% to 20.81 billion yuan. ZTE reported year-on-year revenue growth of 8% in its carriers’ networks division, 44% for its devices division (to 11.21 billion yuan) and 42% for its telecommunication software systems, services and other products.

The Shenzhen, China-based company added: "Sales of the group’s terminal products (comprising 3G handsets in various modes and data cards) in the domestic market were gaining pace as the population of domestic 3G users continued to grow. Internationally, the group sustained strong growth as its terminal products, including the 3G handsets, data cards and netbooks made breakthroughs among global mainstream carriers." source: ZTE statement

China Unicom Outpaces Rivals

Growing faster than its bigger rivals, China Unicom said its revenue rose 22.9% year-on-year in the first half of 2011 to 101.39 billion Chinese yuan (15.87 billion US dollars), fuelled by a fourfold increase in "sales of telecoms products." Service revenues rose a more modest 12.7%, boosted by threefold growth in 3G subscribers.

The operator said it spent 6.32 billion yuan building out its 3G network in the first half (out of total 2011 3G capex budget of 19.47 billion yuan). source: China Unicom presentation

Double-Digit Growth for China Telecom

China Telecom said that its operating revenues, excluding the amortisation of upfront connection fees, climbed 11.7% year-on-year in the first half of 2011 to 120.11 billion Chinese yuan (18.8 billion US dollars).

China Telecom said its total number of mobile subscribers reached 108 million at the end of June, representing a net addition of 17.85 million from the end of last year. Of which, 21.54 million were 3G subscribers, representing a net increase of 9.25 million from the end of 2010. Total number of (fixed-line) broadband subscribers reached 70.09 million, representing a net addition of 6.61 million from the end of last year.
 
The telco said that in the first half of the year, "we achieved a critical breakthrough in 3G smartphones. There are over 100 3G smartphone models available for sale, and the sales of 3G smartphones priced around 1,000 yuan (157 US dollars) outperformed our peers."
 
It added that "technologies such as Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) have been deployed to reinforce the identification capability of the mobile network on customers and services, and to implement the precise mobile traffic management." Capital expenditure for the first half was 20.97 billion yuan. source: China Telecom statement

China Mobile Claims 3G Leadership

China Mobile said its operating revenue rose 8.8% year-on-year in the first half of 2011 to 250.1 billion Chinese yuan (39.15 billion US dollars), lifted by a rising customer base and 42.8% growth in its wireless data business. In the first quarter, growth was 8.3% year-on-year.

China's largest mobile operator said it now has more than 35 million 3G customers (out of a total of 610 million) served by 199,000 3G base stations. The company claims to have 43.5% market share in 3G and that it has the largest Chinese app store (its Mobile Market generated 260 million downloads in the first half of 2011).

China Mobile said its capex climbed very slightly year-on-year to 61.8 billion yuan in the first half. The company now has approximately 800,000 base stations. source: China Mobile presentation 

Nigeria and Iran lift MTN

Pan-Africa and Middle East mobile group MTN said that its revenues increased by 9% year-on-year on an organic basis in the first half of 2011 to 56.54 billion South African rand (7.98 billion US dollars). MTN's capital spending was down by 26% on an organic basis to 5.71 billion rand, mainly because of logistical delays. source: MTN presentation

Google Buys Motorola to Protect Android

Announcing it will buy Motorola  Motorola Mobility Holdings for about 12.5 billion US dollars, Google said that "more than 150 million Android devices have been activated worldwide—with over 550,000 devices now lit up every day—through a network of about 39 manufacturers and 231 carriers in 123 countries."

"Our acquisition of Motorola will increase competition by strengthening Google’s patent portfolio, which will enable us to better protect Android from anti-competitive threats from Microsoft, Apple and other companies," said Google CEO Larry Page. source: Google blog post

Telecom Italia Shores Up Revenues

Telecom Italia said that its revenues grew 2.1% year-on-year in organic terms in the second quarter of 2011 to 7.47 billion euros, lifted by strong growth in its units in Argentina and Brazil. In Italy, revenues declined 6%, compared with 7.4% in the first quarter. source: Telecom Italia presentation

Deutsche Telekom Sees Sales Slide

Deutsche Telekom, Germany's largest telco, said that its net revenue from continuing operations (therefore, excluding its U.S. unit and U.K. joint venture) fell 3.3% year-on-year to 10.97 billion euros in the second quarter of 2011. Revenue fell 3.4% in Germany and 5.5% in the rest of Europe, but its Systems Solutions unit lifted revenues 1.5% to 2.28 billion euros.

The company blamed the decline on falling revenue from voice telephony services, partly as a result of regulation, in Germany and price erosion in its other European operations, which include units in Greece, Romania, the Netherlands and Austria. source: Deutsche Telekom statement

Global Mobile Revenues Rise 4%

Global mobile operator revenues reached 1.057 trillion US dollars in 2010, according to Wireless Intelligence, with operators investing around 200 billion dollars in capital expenditure during the year. WI figures indicate the global mobile industry grew 4.3% last year, compared with 5.5% in 2009.

Voice service revenue still accounted for 75% of recurring revenues in developing countries in 2010, and 70% in developed countries, according to the research firm, which is owned by the GSMA. WI said data revenues (excluding messaging) represented 16% of total revenue in the developed region in 2010, compared to 11% in the developing region. source: Wireless Intelligence statement