Vodafone has posted a net loss of QR72mn in three months up to December although the telco reduced the loss by 31% compared with the previous quarter.
This represents a loss per share of Dh09 in its third quarter, the company said yesterday.
The company earned revenue of QR537mn in the quarter up to December, up 2% on the previous quarter. 
“Revenue growth would have been 5% had the regulated mobile termination rate not been reduced,” Vodafone said. 
However, on a year-on-year (YoY) basis, revenue declined 8% to QR1.6bn.
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation surged 31% quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) to QR132mn, delivering an EBITDA margin of 24.5%.
EBITDA achieved QR343mn for the nine-month period that ended in December; 19% lower year-on-year, representing a margin of 21%.
The average mobile revenue per user (ARPU), a key industry metric, fell to QR107 in December, down 4% on September due to the cut in “mobile termination rate”.
In nine months up to December, ARPU dropped 12% to QR110.
Vodafone saw its customer base reaching its “highest ever” 1.5mn in December, up 1% on September and 6% YoY. 
In a statement, Vodafone Qatar chairman Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Thani al-Thani said, “Vodafone Qatar’s results for the quarter show healthy earnings growth as a result of top line improvement and cost optimisation. The growth has been driven by ever increasing demand for data products and we shall need to review our cost base further to ensure we sustain our margins.
“During the period, we have invested a further QR119mn in our network infrastructure, as part of our ongoing focus on customer experience to deliver world-class network quality and customer service.  As a reflection of our confidence in our new and improved network, we launched a first of its kind ‘money back promise’ that offers new customers who are not fully satisfied with our service their money back.”
Vodafone Qatar, part of one of the world’s largest telecommunications group, the Vodafone Group, is the holder of the second Public Mobile and Fixed Telecommunications Networks and Services Licence in Qatar.  
Vodafone Qatar switched on its mobile network on March 1, 2009. Having built a “world-class” converged IP network, Vodafone launched fibre-based consumer and enterprise fixed-line services commercially in October 2012. 
Effective January last year, Vodafone Qatar became fully compliant with Shariah practices throughout its business, including commercial and financial operations.