Dobson Communications Corp., which previously reported preliminary third-quarter results, posted $272.4 million in total revenues during the third quarter of this year, which was a 27.8-percent improvement compared with the $213.1 million the carrier reported during the third quarter of 2003. The carrier noted that it recognized $1.2 million in universal service fund revenue during the third quarter related to its newly approved eligible telecommunication carrier designation in Wisconsin.
Dobson also reported that roaming revenues accounted for 22.8 percent of total revenues during the third quarter of this year compared with 26.2 percent during the third quarter of 2003. The carrier reported 450 million roaming minutes of use during the quarter with a blended yield of 13.8 cents per minute and said 43 percent of total roaming traffic was on its GSM network compared with 25 percent during the second quarter of this year.
Dobson’s net losses improved from a loss of $21.2 million during the third quarter of 2003, a loss of 19 cents per share, to a loss of $13.5 million this year, a loss of 10 cents per share.
Average revenue per user dropped slightly year-over-year from $41.71 during the third quarter of 2003 to $41.20 this year, but it increased from the $40.03 posted during the second quarter of 2004.
Dobson previously reported that it added 1,200 net subscribers during the third quarter, including the loss of 7,700 prepaid and postpaid customers offset by a gain of 8,900 resale subscribers. The carrier added 16,600 subscribers during the third quarter of 2003.
Customer churn during the quarter increased from 1.7 percent during the third quarter of 2003 to 2.05 percent this year.
