Q4FY13 Results: Idea Cellular Beats Street Expectations

Idea Cellular has posted strong numbers for the recently concluded Q4FY13. The topline witnessed a YoY growth of 12.80% for Q4FY13 to stand at Rs 6095.10 crore as against Rs 5403.50 crore for Q4FY12. There has been a significant jump in the EBITDA on a YoY basis witnessing a growth of 24.58% for Q4FY13 and the EBITDA margins have improved significantly by 233 basis points on a YoY basis to stand at 24.67% for Q4FY13.

The ARPM (Average Realised Rate per Minute) was nearly flat at 41.2p for Q4FY13 as against 41.1p in Q3FY13. The company improved its ‘Non Voice Revenue’ to 15.2% (14.6% in Q3FY13) led by data growth. The data volume expanded by 13.8% to 11.4 billion MB (10.0 billion MB in Q3FY13) and data realised rate improved by 9.5% to 33.9p per MB in Q4FY13 (31.0p in Q3FY13). The active 3G subscriber base for the company stands at 5.1 million, helping its overall 2G+3G data revenue growth on a sequential quarterly basis by 24.6% and the data ARPU reaching to Rs 55.

Idea continues to strengthen its competitive standing by investing in long-term value creators – launched 2,432 GSM sites and 1,595 3G sites, expanded optical fibre network to 74,000 km and strengthened its presence in NLD, ILD, ISP, Data Services and Smartphone Device business. Idea is the biggest net gainer nationally in the Mobile Number Portability program, a strong indicator of the popular appeal of Idea mobile services.