As at 31 December 2005, Vodacom Group recorded 21.5 million customers across its networks operating in South Africa, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique and Lesotho, reflecting a 12.4% increase in the three months since 30 September.
The rapid growth in the customer base is a result of high gross customer connections of 3.4 million, combined with low churn for the quarter. The group`s international operations comprised 3.9 million customers, or 18.1% of the total customer base.
Vodacom South Africa increased its customer base by a healthy 11.6% since 30 September 2005 to 17.6 million customers in an increasingly competitive market. Vodacom South Africa`s customer base comprises 2.3 million contract customers and 15.3 million prepaid customers, reflecting increases of 7.7% and 12.2% since 30 September 2005, respectively.
South African ARPU declined to R144 per month for the nine months to 31 December 2005, compared to R147 per month for the six months which ended 30 September 2005.
Vodacom South Africa was the first operator to introduce a commercial 3G offering into the local market a year ago. The take up by customers continues to be encouraging, with the number of 3G Vodafone Mobile Connect data cards on the network as at 31 December 2005 at 26.6 thousand (30 September 2005: 18.7 thousand). The number of 3G base stations has increased to 1 460 (30 September 2005: 1 122).
Vodacom South Africa customers, three-month inactive customer statistics, and year-to-date ARPU and churn as at 31 December 2005 compared to 30 September 2005 are as follows:
[Table 1]
Vodacom`s other African operations increased their total customer base by 16.3% since 30 September 2005 to 3.9 million customers. Satisfactory customer growth was achieved in all Vodacom`s other African operations, most notably Mozambique with a 30.4% increase in its customer base.
Vodacom`s other African operations` customers, year-to-date ARPU and churn as at 31 December 2005 compared to 30 September 2005 are as follows:
[Table 2]
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