WINNIPEG – Strong performances in wireless and television at MTS Allstream took centre stage in the company’s 2010 results on Thursday.
At December 31, 2010, the company had 483,754 wireless subscribers, up by 5.5% from the same period in 2009. Revenues from its wireless data services were up by 50.4% in the fourth quarter of 2010 and by 46.2% for the year.
Digital television services revenues grew by $5.4 million or 10.0% this year compared to 2009. At the end of the fourth quarter, the company had more than 37,000 subscribers to its MTS Ultimate TV service, as compared to approximately 14,000 at the end of the same period of 2009. In total, MTS Allstream reported 89,967 digital television subscribers at the end of 2010, representing a 4.0% increase year-over-year.
High-speed Internet services revenues were up by $0.5 million in the fourth quarter, described as “stable” for the year, as compared to the same periods in 2009. At year end, the company’s high-speed Internet subscriber base totalled 184,806, up 1.6% from last year.
"Our results for 2010 came in as we expected which bodes well to deliver on our positive outlook for 2011," said CEO Pierre Blouin, in a statement. "In 2010, we made some very critical, strategic decisions to invest for the future.
"With respect to Allstream, we achieved near double-digit converged IP growth in the fourth quarter and believe our strategy of expanding our IP fibre network is starting to show results as we work to reduce low-margin legacy revenues and bring more business onto our own fibre network. We have strengthened our Allstream business, building a solid foundation in 2010 and expect to deliver improved results across the Company in 2011.
"Our investments in HSPA+ wireless technology and the acceleration of our fibre-to-the-home program represent growth opportunities for us, and will go a long way to ensuring we maintain our market leadership in Manitoba and continue to deliver strong cash flows for many years to come."
Allstream’s converged IP product line, which now represents 27% of the division’s overall revenues, grew by 9.7% in the fourth quarter, reflecting increased sales of IP in previous quarters. For all of 2010, Allstream’s IP revenues totalled $217.4 million. The division also won 52 new IP contracts in the fourth quarter.
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