As of 31-March-2004, France Telecom was serving over 4.1 million ADSL lines, up from 3.3 million at 31-Dec-2003 and up from 1.8 million at the same time in 2003. This represents nearly 770,000 additional ADSL lines activated during Q1 2004.
Of the 4.1 million total ADSL lines, Wanadoo was serving 2.042 million lines; third party ISPs were serving 1.618 million lines, and 456,000 were being delivered over unbundled local loops.
France Telecom’s consolidated Q1 2004 revenues were EUR 11.45 billion, compared to EUR 11.4 billion for Q1 2003 on a historical basis (EUR 10.9 billion on a comparable basis). This represents a 4.8% increase on a comparable basis (0.6% on a historical basis).
The increase in revenues was attributed to Orange and Wanadoo, which recorded increases of 12.1% and 15.3% respectively, on a comparable basis, and 9.9% and 12.2% on a historical basis. Revenues for the Fixed, Distribution, Networks, Large Customers and Carriers segment experienced a limited decrease of 0.6% on a comparable basis and of 0.7% on a historical basis. Revenues in France from ADSL were EUR 239 million for Q1 2004 (excluding unbundling), compared to EUR 157 million for Q1 2003, an increase of more than 50%.
Revenues from Consumer Services recorded a decline of 3.1% on a comparable basis (a decrease of 3.2% on a historical basis). The impact of lower prices (calls from fixed to mobile phones; unlisted number service free of charge since August 2003) and the continued decline in market share are partly compensated by fast-paced growth in ADSL service in France (sales to Wanadoo France).
Business Services recorded a 4.3% decline in revenues on a historical basis (a decline of 4% on a comparable basis) due to a decrease in revenues from voice calls, reflecting increased competition, particularly the development of alternative local loops in dense areas. Meanwhile, the growth in volume of business networks has continued, accompanied by fast migrations to new technology: the number of IP VPN accesses has more than doubled in one year, and represented 28% of Business Internet accesses at 31-March-2004, compared to 16% one year earlier.
Revenues from Networks and Carrier Services increased sharply compared to Q1 2003, rising 12.4% on a comparable basis and 12.3% on a historical basis, compared to an annual decline of 0.3% in 2003. This significant improvement was due mainly to strong growth in the installed ADSL base in France (wholesale services for third-party ISPs and operators), as well as to the unbundling of telephone lines.
Equant revenues decreased 4.2% on a comparable basishttp://www.francetelecom.com
