Oman Telecommunications Company S.A.O.G (Omantel), the Sultanate’s pioneer telecom company, has announced today its preliminary financial results showing an increase in the net profit after tax by 11.8{e1f18614b95d3cd6e4b3128e1cd15d99b042a60a5a19c19b7a8e07e7495efa10} to R.O 61.2 Million. The Company’s first half revenue witnessed an increase of 5{e1f18614b95d3cd6e4b3128e1cd15d99b042a60a5a19c19b7a8e07e7495efa10} to R.O 234.5 Million from R.O 223.3 Million for the corresponding period of 2011.
The increase in Omantel revenue is mainly attributed to the impressive growth in mobile broadband subscribers by 63{e1f18614b95d3cd6e4b3128e1cd15d99b042a60a5a19c19b7a8e07e7495efa10} which contributed to an increase in the mobile revenue by 7.4{e1f18614b95d3cd6e4b3128e1cd15d99b042a60a5a19c19b7a8e07e7495efa10} year on year. Both service revenues and wholesale revenues have recorded a growth of 4.2{e1f18614b95d3cd6e4b3128e1cd15d99b042a60a5a19c19b7a8e07e7495efa10} and 8.4{e1f18614b95d3cd6e4b3128e1cd15d99b042a60a5a19c19b7a8e07e7495efa10} respectively. The increase in wholesale revenue is mainly contributed by increase in revenues from external administration and Capacity sales.
Omantel subscriber base witnessed a notable growth both in the domestic and group levels. Excluding Worldcall subscribers, Omantel’s domestic subscriber base witnessed a growth of 12.6{e1f18614b95d3cd6e4b3128e1cd15d99b042a60a5a19c19b7a8e07e7495efa10} as of 30th June 2012 reaching 2.769 million (excluding Mobile Resellers) mainly contributed by Omantel mobile business. The Company witnessed an increase in the total group customer base (including Worldcall subscribers) by 10.7{e1f18614b95d3cd6e4b3128e1cd15d99b042a60a5a19c19b7a8e07e7495efa10} to 3.707 million as of 30th June 2012 compared to 3.348 million on the corresponding period of 2011. Omantel Mobile continued to lead the market with a significant growth in the Company’s mobile network’s market share to 59.6{e1f18614b95d3cd6e4b3128e1cd15d99b042a60a5a19c19b7a8e07e7495efa10}, making Omantel Mobile again the fastest growing mobile operator in the Sultanate.
The total operating expenses increased by 1.8{e1f18614b95d3cd6e4b3128e1cd15d99b042a60a5a19c19b7a8e07e7495efa10} to RO 167 million compared to RO 164 million for the corresponding period of year 2011. The increase was mainly driven by higher employee cost, external administration and interconnection costs. The cost of sale of IRU and depreciation of plant, property and equipment have decreased by RO 4.5 million and RO 5.2 million respectively compared to Q2 2011.
Commenting on this inspiring consistent performance, Omantel’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Amer Awadh Al Rawas said: “Our Company has continued to make outstanding growth despite many challenging conditions and increased competition in the domestic market”.
Dr. Amer further noted: “We are proud of this growth which is attributed to the growth of our mobile and fixed broadband customer-base by 63{e1f18614b95d3cd6e4b3128e1cd15d99b042a60a5a19c19b7a8e07e7495efa10} and 25{e1f18614b95d3cd6e4b3128e1cd15d99b042a60a5a19c19b7a8e07e7495efa10} respectively. This is lucid evidence that we are in the right path and that we are gaining the fruits of our previous investments both in the network and customer experience enhancement”.
“We are delighted with the latest brand surveys that demonstrated a very good improvement of our brand scoring as well as our customers satisfaction which is credited to the relentless efforts of all our units to enhance the services that we provide and the experience of our customers. I would like to thank our loyal customers, visionary Board, committed employees and supportive shareholders who have always been part and in support of Omantel’s journey to excellence” Al Rawas concluded.