Deutsche Telekom expects growth in core earnings to pick up this year but write-offs on investments and interest payments on its heavy debt burden will continue to weigh on results.

Europe's largest telecoms operator by revenue saw its core profit growth slightly dented in the first quarter of this year, Deutsche Telekom said.

First-quarter earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) for the group rose by a single-digit percentage, chief executive Mr Ron Sommer said, without giving a number. EBITDA was €3.6 billion in the same period last year.