WINNIPEG – Wireless and IPTV revenues continued to rise, while wired line losses and steadily decreasing income from traditional services like long distance marked a solid 2011 for MTS Allstream.
The company today reported net earnings of $167.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2011 (an 18.3% increase over 2010) while fourth-quarter net earnings were $36.9 million (a 23.8% increase).
As well, free cash flow for the year increased by $95.7 million to $129.8 million in 2011, MTS wireless revenues were up 8.6%, with ARPU up $2.34 – driven by 46.1% wireless data revenue growth. IPTV revenues also went up 19.3% (to $70.6 million) and 64% of IPTV customers (of which there are over 95,400) now subscribe to the premium service. The company’s Allstream business telecom division saw EBITDA rise 34%, with IP revenue growth of 8.7% as the company added 299 buildings in 2011, totaling 2,388 buildings on its IP fibre network
"We are focused on remaining the leading telecommunications provider in Manitoba and growing Allstream's converged IP business,” said company CEO Pierre Blouin in a press release. “In 2011, we made significant progress on these strategic objectives by launching our 4G wireless network in Manitoba and by extending Allstream's national fibre network… We saw a significant increase in our free cash flow for the year, which was driven by lower capital expenditures, the benefit of our cost saving programs and the growth in our strategic lines of business. Manitoba Telecom Services is well positioned to continue to perform for our customers and our shareholders in 2012."
