Cell C's active subscriber numbers prove it is firmly in third place in terms of SA's four mobile operators.
This week, Cell C for the first time released its yearly financial results, and as part of that, put an end to speculation as to exactly how many customers the telco has, revealing that at the end of December 2016, it had 15.3 million active customers.
Vodacom still holds the top spot in terms of subscriber numbers and at the end of December 2016, had 36.4 million active customers in SA. Second placed MTN at the same date had 30.8 million local subscribers, double Cell C's 15.3 million, while Telkom Mobile trails in fourth place with around 3.2 million mobile customers (as at the end of September 2016).
Cell C says that over the last year, subscribers grew by 20% to 15.3 million. This means that at the end of December 2015, it had 12.75 million active customers.
However, in July last year, Cell C issued a press statement in which it claimed its 'total' customers had trebled over the past four years and at the time equalled more than 24 million. When specifically looking at 'active' customers, the number is almost nine million lower. Operators like Vodacom and Telkom classify active customers as those who have been active in the last 90 days.
Cell C's 'Who we are' page on its Web site still claims it grew its mobile subscribers "from nine million in 2012 to over 20 million by July 2015".
Cell C this week announced it had posted its first profit of R540 million for the year ending 31 December. The telecoms operator also increased its total revenue by 11% to R14.6 billion and service revenue by 8% to R11.8 billion.
The group is trying to finalise a planned recapitalisation, including an equity buy-in by Blue Label Telecoms and Net1 UEPS.
The proposed new structure will see Blue Label acquire 45% of Cell C for R5.5 billion, Net1 a 15% interest for R2 billion, Cell C management will own 5%, 3C Telecommunications will hold 30% and Cell C staff the remaining 5%.
Cell C CEO Jose Dos Santos said the deal will be finalised by the end of May or early June.
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