By Pratap John/Chief Business Reporter

A combination of customer growth and improving revenue helped Vodafone Qatar post earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of QR210mn for six months up to September; an improvement of 105% year-on-year.
The company earned total revenue of QR925mn in the six-month period; up 33% on the same period in 2012.
Mobile average revenue per user (ARPU) increased by 5% to QR124, Vodafone Qatar said yesterday.
Reduction in net loss reached QR160mn for the six months up to September compared with QR240mn in the previous period, Vodafone said. The company earned a distributable profit of QR41mn for the six months, compared to a loss of QR39mn in the same period last year.
Vodafone Qatar chairman Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Thani al-Thani said, “During the first half of the year we saw excellent growth in our customer base due to the growing population and our attractive offers and services. This, coupled with a healthy increase in our post-paid base, has driven really strong top line performance.
“Also during the first half of this year, we launched a comprehensive range of enterprise grade fixed products including corporate voice, Internet and data network solutions. We now have several notable new enterprise customers and our residential services in The Pearl and Barwa City are growing rapidly.”
He said “significant investment” in Vodafone’s infrastructure is continuing.
“We continue to upgrade our 3G network to support the fastest data speeds. We also rolled out additional cell sites to increase coverage and enhance capacity together with the installation of dedicated indoor cells to improve coverage within residential and retail properties.”
“Our partnership with Qnbn (Qatar National Broadband Network) is going from strength to strength as we work closely to rapidly expand our fixed coverage.”
Vodafone Qatar CEO Kyle Whitehill said the company would continue to provide “service with a difference” to its customers.
“Our high networth customers will soon experience a different kind of experience, which I am sure they will appreciate. He said the company will continue to invest in technology and improve its coverage and service in the country. Our goal is to be the most admired brand in Qatar,” he told a press conference yesterday.
Asked why there was an upward revision in tariff recently, Whitehill said, “It was necessitated by higher charges demanded by operators in other countries. Still, our rates are very competitive.”
Chief financial officer Steve Walters said he expected the company “to break even within a couple of years.”
Vodafone head (investor relations) Khalid Barzak was also present.