Vodafone Group reported its strongest growth in five years, adding 4.1 million new subscribers in the company's first quarter and beating analysts' estimates of 3.1 million. In the UK, Vodafone added 165,000 new subscribers, bringing the company's subscriber base in that country to 15.5 million. ARPU in the UK, however, dipped from £306 to £300. In Germany, the global carrier added 497,000 new subscribers, but ARPU also declined, falling from €299 to €295. Vodafone now claims 165 million subscribers around the world.
In a separate announcement, Vodafone Group CEO Arun Sarin told German publication Welt am Sonntag that his company is now interested in acquiring T-Mobile USA. Sarin also dismissed rumors that Vodafone will sell its stake in US carrier Verizon Wireless, saying that Vodafone is happy with its US partnership.
For more on Vodafone's Q1 results:
- read this article from the International Herald Tribune and this AFX blurb