Orange Romania, the largest mobile operator in the country, announced today the financial results for S1 2016, i.e. the first half of this year, and as you can see, we are talking about a 4.9% increase in the company's revenues compared to S1 2015, but and an increase in 4G traffic.
More precisely, 4G traffic increased 4 times in S1 2016 compared to S1 2015, and the number of 4G terminals doubled, the number of customers using 4G services increased 2.8 times compared to the same period last year, a sign that the intense promotion of 4G was successful, at least for Orange.
At the moment Orange Romania has 4G coverage for 74% of the country's total population and 96.5% for the urban population, and if these numbers don't tell you this yet, well, Orange has the best 4G coverage among all mobile operators in Romania, it being the result of sustained investments.
In the first 6 months of 2016, Orange Romania had revenues of 475,9 million euros, which were divided quite equally between the two fiscal quarters. Regarding the number of customers, on June 30 it was 9.846.000, with approximately 200.000 customers less than a few months ago.
I told you a few weeks ago that Digi Mobil attracted the most goalkeepers from Romania in the last year, and Orange suffered along with the rest of the operators in the country, the impact on its customer base being small compared to the total number of people who use Orange services.
In the coming months, I expect Orange to put a lot of emphasis on fixed-mobile convergent services, that is, on their launch in Bucharest and as many cities as possible in the country, plus the launch of new offers for those interested in benefiting from the operator's new services.
"Four times more 4G traffic and revenue up 4,9% in the first half of 2016
- 4G mobile data consumption increased 4 times, and the base of 4G terminals doubled;
- the number of customers using 4G services increased 2,8 times compared to last year;
- fixed-mobile convergent offers launched in three cities;
- 4G network available to 74% of the country's total population and 96,5% of the urban population.
Bucharest, July 26, 2016. The Orange Group announces today the financial results for the first semester of 2016, valid on June 30.
Cumulative revenues in the first six months of the year were 475,9 million euros, 4,9% higher compared to the first half of the previous year, an evolution supported by the increase in the number of subscriptions and the consumption of mobile data. In the second quarter of the year, Orange Romania recorded total revenues of 240,5 million euros, up 3,3% compared to the same period in 2015, with a slightly slower pace as a result of the European roaming regulation. On June 30, 2016, the company had 9.846.000 customers, and of these 1.600.000 use 4G services, with a 2,8 times increase compared to the same period last year.
Data consumption and smart devices
4G mobile data traffic continues its upward trend, being 4 times higher in the first part of the year compared to the same period last year, against the background of increased interest in 4G terminals and advantageous offers for the purchase of 4G terminals and services from the Orange portfolio. In this context, in June, the base of 4G terminals doubled compared to the same period of the previous year. In the first half of 2016 we sold 32% more smartphones than the same period last year, and the share of customers who prefer smartphones increased from 54% last year to 68% this year.
Orange continues to offer the most extensive coverage for 4G services, with the 4G network available to 74% of the country's total population and 96,5% of the urban population, in over 5000 localities.
Richer TV content for users
As a result of the release of new versions of Orange TV Go and the enrichment of available content, with more than 80 channels and more than 500 movies and episodes of beloved series, the application has reached 1,8 million downloads and updates. Also, the number of active users increased continuously, so that their average monthly number in the first half of 2016 was 57% higher compared to the first half of last year. Orange Home TV by satellite continues to attract more and more customers, reaching more than 305.000 subscribers at the end of June.
Innovative services for business customers
The communication solutions offered to business customers are generating an increasingly high interest, both those for small entrepreneurs in Romania, such as the new Orange Pro subscription portfolio, as well as integrated ITC solutions with a direct impact on business productivity and benefits in the area of mobility . Thus, in the first semester, the number of new small and medium company customers who chose Orange increased by 40%, compared to the same period of the previous year. At the same time, services that include cloud productivity solutions dedicated to business saw a doubling of sales in the second quarter of 2016 compared to the previous quarter.
Orange – fixed-mobile convergent operator
In May, Orange launched fiber optic internet, fixed voice and digital cable television services in the cities of Cluj-Napoca, Iași and Timișoara, with coverage expected to be extended to urban areas in the rest of the country by the end of the year. The offer was very well received, it is aimed especially at our customers and offers them complete solutions through the latest technologies for both mobile and home.
Innovative apps and services for fun and connectivity
The 4G Call Service (VoLTE) which brings an even faster call connection, HD quality conversations, as well as the possibility to simultaneously use voice and internet services at 4G performance has become available to both subscribers and PrePay customers , and the number of users increased 10 times compared to the end of last year.
In the first part of the year, to bring the benefits of the #4 1G network as close as possible, Orange launched the My Heartbeats app, very popular among young people, and the My Heartbeats for Football app, dedicated to Euro 2016, where customers received mobile internet traffic as a gift of almost 3000 TB. In My Heartbeats for Football customers have recorded over 340.000 messages of encouragement for the national team.
"We ended the first half of the year with a solid commercial and financial performance, consolidating the company's leading position in the mobile services market. In the second quarter of the year, customers continued to choose subscription offers tailored to their needs, along with the best range of smartphones available. This confirms the interest in the benefits of the offers and their trust in the quality of Orange services. In the context of a highly competitive market on price, our strategy is to ensure the best experience through network coverage and performance, diversity of offerings and professionalism and expertise in support services at all points of interaction. Our customers will discover the promise of Orange quality also fulfilled in the new services that we will launch in the coming period." said Liudmila Climoc, CEO of Orange Romania."
