ABU DHABI, 18 October 2006 — Etisalat revenues for the consolidated nine months increased to AED11.815 billion, a rise of 26 percent compared to the same period last year. Operating profits increased to AED4.150 billion, a rise of 36 percent over the corresponding period of 2005, and net profits for the nine months have grown to AED4.386 billion, an increase of 36 percent compared to the same period of 2005, Etisalat officials revealed yesterday after its board meeting.
Etisalat Chairman Mohammed Hassan Omran said, “The performance of the corporation in the first nine months of 2006 brings us even closer to our ambition of being among the top 10 telecom operators in the world by 2010.”
“We’re committed to being the first and foremost choice for our customers in the UAE and overseas markets in which we operate,” he added.
Omran also praised the efforts of Etisalat’s employees, confirming that the high growth rate in revenues, profits, and subscribers translate the Etisalat board’s vision of providing latest services and technologies to customers, while participating in the development of the UAE and other markets of operations.
Mobile services witnessed a 22 percent growth in the first nine moths of 2006, compared to the same period last year. Mobile subscribers now number 5.26 million, as on Sept. 30.
Internet subscribers, including broadband connections, reached 630,000, a record growth of 34 per cent over 2005. Fixed lines subscribers number 1.28 million, up by four percent compared to the same period last year.
