Bell reports surge in wireless data usage

BCE Inc.’s net earnings the fourth quarter grew slightly compared to a year earlier, though its wireless revenue gained by a wider margin largely on increased data usage. Bell's reported in a press release that revenue rose 2.7 per cent from a year earlier to $5.53 billion. Net earnings were $594 million, up from $593 million in the fourth quarter of 2013. Wireless revenue grew 9.6 per cent in the quarter to $1.65 billion and was up 6.7 per cent in 2014 from the previous year. ARPU was up on “accelerating usage” of data on its LTE network, Bell said in a news release. The company said wireless data revenues grew by 26 per cent in the quarter and now represent roughly half of its total wireless revenue. The company said it added 118,120 postpaid subscribers in the quarter at its Bell Mobility and Bell Aliant brands, and increased its subscriber base by 4.6 per cent on the year. Wireline revenues increased one per cent in the quarter to $2.63 billion, which the company said was the first quarter of growth since the second quarter of 2010. For the full year, wireline revenue fell 0.6 per cent to $10.04 billion. The fourth quarter of 2014 was the first quarter since 2005 that Bell’s wireline division delivered growth in revenue, adjusted earnings and residential subscriber numbers, the company said. Strong demand for its broadband Fibe TV services drove growth, the company said. For the year, its television subscriber base grew by 4.3 per cent and its broadband customer base, including Bell Aliant, grew 5.1 per cent. Without the addition of Bell Aliant’s customers, broadband subscriptions grew 4.7 per cent. On July 23, BCE said it would buy the outstanding shares in Bell Aliant that it does not own for $3.95 billion. Bell said in the release it will pay $202 million for a 50 per cent stake in wireless retailer Glentel Inc. in a deal to split control with Rogers Communications Inc., which had initially filed a challenge to the sale. Rogers will pay Bell $392 million in cash for the remaining 50 per cent of the retailer and the deal is expected to close in the next few months, Bell said.

Bell reports surge in wireless data usage

Brief | February 5, 2015

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Bell reports surge in wireless data usage

Brief | February 5, 2015

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