OKLAHOMA CITY-Dobson Communications Corp. affirmed its previously reported $145 million to $155 million in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization guidance for the second half of this year based on a preliminary review of its third-quarter results. The operator said it expects full-year 2004 EBITDA to range from $480 million to $515 million.
Dobson also said in connection with its accelerated network overlay plans of its legacy TDMA network with GSM/GPRS technology that it expects consolidated capital expenditures to range between $140 million and $170 million during the second half of this year. Combined with the $50.3 million Dobson said it spent on capex during the first half of this year, the carrier is expected to exceed the $135 million to $145 million it previously said it planned to spend this year.
The carrier added that it will spend an additional $90 million to $120 million on capex next year, and it expects its network overlay to be completed by the mid-year.
