Wireless data usage helps drive up profits at Telus

VANCOUVER – First quarter profits at Telus climbed by 20% which the company attributed to growth in wireless and wireline revenues, both driven by strong data revenue growth.Consolidated revenue for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 was $2.5 billion, an increase of 6.5% from $2.3 billion year-over-year, the telco announced Thursday. Net income for the quarter was $328 million, up 20% from $273 million in the same period in 2010.Telus ended the quarter with just over 7 million wireless customers, including 52,000 new postpaid wireless subscribers, as smart phone loading continued to accelerate. Prepaid subscribers declined 20,000.The company added 44,000 new...