TORONTO-Rogers Cantel Mobile Communications Inc. posted overall results for the second quarter, ended June 30, showing a 6.2-percent increase in total revenues to $215 million from $202.5 million for the second quarter of 1998.
Operating income before depreciation and amortization was $70 million, up 2.7 percent from $68 million for the same period last year. The operating income margin before depreciation and amortization decreased to 32.6 percent from 33.7 percent in second-quarter 1998.
Cellular services revenue totaled $180.8 million, up 3.3 percent from $175 million in the second quarter last year.
“Revenue was impacted by a 15.7-percent increase in the average number of subscribers, offset by a 12.2-percent decline in average revenue per subscriber, compared with 1998’s second quarter,” said the company.
Gross cellular activations were 187,100, up 74,300 or 65.9 percent from the prior year’s second quarter. As of June 30, Rogers Cantel had a total of 1.91 million cellular subscribers, an increase of 109,500 in the quarter, said the company. At the end of the quarter, about 690,000 customers were on Digital PCS, representing about 36 percent of its subscriber base, and 181,400 were on its Pay As You Go prepaid cellular service.
Charles E. Hoffman, Rogers Cantel president and chief executive officer, said the results represent the best second-quarter results in the company’s 14-year history, in terms of new customer additions.
