Telecoms group MmO2 has reported solid rises in average revenue and subscriber numbers for the quarter ended in June, helped by the switch to its new O2 brand in five countries.
O2 Ireland saw a small decline of 19,000 customers to 1.161 million, but average revenue per user (ARPU) rose to £333 sterling (€520) from £329 (€514) in the last quarter. On the other hand, O2 Netherlands added 27,000 users to 1.282 million, but ARPU slipped £3 (€4) to £160 (€250). All four countries' ARPU figures blend contract and pre-pay figures.
MmO2 shares, pulling off a record low below 35p last month, climbed 6.5 per cent to 49 1/2p in early trade, their highest since before the firm turned in disappointing full-year results at the end of May.
On top of further growth in text messaging, the roll-out of new data-friendly devices such as the O2 XDA and the Blackberry helped the company to report that 14.6 per cent of its service revenues were driven by data. The group is targeting 16 per cent by year-end.