SingTel strengthened leadership position

Optus had continuous strong net additions

Telkomsel gained market share for third straight quarter

Singapore, 10 November 2009 -- Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SingTel) announced that the Group posted strong growth in customer acquisitions with the addition of 57 million customers, or 26 per cent higher than a year ago, bringing its combined regional mobile customer base to 273 million as at 30 September 2009.

In the quarter, Optus had continuous strong net additions, Singapore further strengthened its leadership and Telkomsel’s market share rose to approximately 51.4 per cent.

*Proportionate base represents the number of mobile customers of an associate multiplied by the SingTel Group’s effective percentage ownership in the venture at the respective dates.

Strong customer growth from associates

Bharti, India’s number one cellular operator in India added 33 million mobile customers from a year ago, an increase of 43 per cent, to a total of 110.5 million as at 30 September 2009.

Telkomsel, the leading operator of cellular telecommunications services in Indonesia, added 19.3 million new mobile customers from a year ago, or 32 per cent, to 79.8 million as at 30 September 2009. With its strong leadership in coverage, Telkomsel gained market share for the third consecutive quarter to approximately 51.4 per cent, its highest since 2008.

Globe, the second largest mobile communications service provider in the Philippines, registered a net reduction of 1.9 million mobile customers in the quarter as it continued to churn out its lower quality prepaid users. Consequently, its total customer base was 23.1 million as at 30 September 2009, a decline of 2.6 per cent or 0.6 million from a year ago.

AIS, the largest mobile operator in Thailand, added 5.6 per cent more customers from a year ago or 1.5 million customers, to bring its total customer base to 28.3 million as at 30 September 2009.

Warid’s mobile customer base increased 14 per cent from a year ago, or 2.3 million, to 18.5 million as at 30 September 2009.

Optus continues strong customer growth

In yet another strong performance, Optus’ mobile customer base expanded 11 per cent from a year ago, or 805,000 new customers, to more than 8.2 million as at 30 September 2009.

Optus continued its strong growth trajectory with the addition of 223,000 new mobile and wireless broadband customers in the quarter, including a total of 145,000 postpaid customers.

Customer take-up was driven by a comprehensive range of smart phones including the iPhone 3GS, popular offerings such as ‘Timeless’, ‘Family Value Packs’ and an extensive suite of mobile content.

In the quarter, the number of 3G customers increased by 11 per cent to 3.08 million. 

SingTel extends leadership position in Singapore

SingTel continued to strengthen its mobile offerings with the introduction of new innovative products and services. It gained a total of 109,000 new customers in the quarter, bringing its total mobile base past the 3 million-mark to 3.1 million and increased its market share to 46.2 per cent as at 30 September 2009.

In the prepaid market, its distinctive targeted offerings like hi! Club programme, a community networking service based on nationality as well as ‘Easy Mobile Top-up’ which allows retailers to top up ‘over the air’ into customers’ account, helped SingTel add 79,000 new prepaid mobile customers.

SingTel added 30,000 new postpaid customers boosted by the sale and usage of smart phones.

Demand for 3G mobile services remained strong with net additions of 64,000 in the quarter, bringing SingTel’s 3G customer base to 1.34 million as at 30 September 2009.

More information on the performance of the SingTel Group will be available when it announces its results for the second quarter and half year ended 30 September 2009 on 11 November 2009.

About SingTel

SingTel is a strategic investor in the region’s most successful mobile operations. It has a 21.32 per cent stake in Thailand’s Advanced Info Service (AIS). In India, it has a 30.44 per cent effective interest in Bharti, the country’s largest GSM operator. One of SingTel’s earliest investments in the region is Globe Telecom in the Philippines. Today, it has a 47.34 per cent stake in Globe. SingTel has a 35 per cent stake in Indonesia’s largest mobile operator, Telkomsel. It also has a 45 per cent stake in Pacific Bangladesh Telecom Limited (PBTL) and a 30 per cent stake in Warid Telecom in Pakistan. More information can be found at www.singtel.com and www.optus.com.au.