Ntelos posts robust Q4 growth

Regional telecommunications provider Ntelos Holdings Corp. said it added 9,773 wireless customers in the fourth quarter of 2006, an increase of 18 percent from the same period in 2005 and up 35 percent sequentially.
The company, which provides wireless, wireline telephone and data services, said that 73 percent of its 367,200 wireless subscribers were on postpaid plans, and 83 percent of those had at least 15 months remaining in their service contracts. Ntelos reported subscriber turnover of 3.2 percent for the fourth quarter of 2006, a slight sequential increase from 3.1 percent in the third quarter of the year. Postpaid churn was at 2.2 percent.
Ntelos said it expects to report operating revenue of between $113.2 million to $114 million when it releases its full financial results on March 1. Net income is projected to be between $4.5 million and $6 million for the quarter.
Ntelos, which offers wireless through a contract with Sprint Nextel Corp., but is not considered an affiliate, provides service in portions of Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Maryland and North Carolina.