Alltel adds one million gross wireless customers in the third quarter

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Alltel achieved strong customer growth in the third quarter, adding more than 1 million gross customers for the fourth consecutive quarter. Net customer additions increased 63 percent year-over-year.


“The Alltel team delivered another terrific quarter, and I continue to admire their ability to execute in a fiercely competitive marketplace,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Scott Ford. “Once again we had strong customer additions and record consolidated EBITDA.”


Alltel announced plans on June 5 to be acquired by Verizon Wireless. The deal is awaiting final regulatory approval and is expected to close before year’s end.


Among Alltel’s highlights for the third quarter:

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Revenues were $2.5 billion, a 10 percent increase from the same period a year ago. The company reported a loss of $55.2 million, due primarily to significant increases in interest costs and depreciation and amortization expense following the completion of the company’s November 2007 merger with an affiliate of TPG Capital and GS Capital Partners.
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Consolidated EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) was $929.8 million, a 13 percent increase from the same period a year ago.
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Alltel added more than 1 million gross customers through internal growth, a 28 percent increase from a year ago. Post-pay net additions were 255,299, up 20 percent year-over-year, and prepay net adds were 52,722. Reseller net adds were 27,131. Total net adds were 335,152.
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Post-pay churn was 1.33 percent, and total churn was 2.02 percent.
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Average revenue per wireless customers (ARPU) was $55.62. Data revenue per wireless customer was $8.99, up 42 percent year-over-year.


A table describing consolidated EBITDA and reconciling net income to consolidated EBITDA is included in the schedules accompanying this release.
Alltel operates America’s largest wireless network, which delivers voice and advanced data services nationwide to nearly 14 million customers. Headquartered in Little Rock, Ark., Alltel is a Forbes 500 company with annual revenues of nearly $9 billion.