Esat BT reports 20% rise in revenues

Revenues at Esat BT rose 20 per cent to €289 million in the 12 months to March 31st, the company said today.

Revenues at Esat BT rose 20 per cent to €289 million in the 12 months to March 31st, the company said today.

The telecoms operator said it had signed a number of significant ICT contracts during the year including a seven-year €151 million deal with Bank of Ireland.

Mr Bill Murphy, company chief executive, said single billing offered exciting challenges for Esat BT in the year ahead. He added that the residential telephone market in the State is now open to true competition.

Mr Murphy said the firm would continue to support an all-Ireland ICT market for consumers and businesses by working with BT Northern Ireland.

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Esat BT's British parent, BT Group, posted a 10 per cent rise in its full year underlying profits and lifted its dividend payment by 31 per cent.

The group reported a profit before taxation, goodwill and exceptional items of £2.016 billion sterling for the year to March 31st, 2004, up 10 per cent.

Group turnover was flat, excluding the impact of mobile termination rate reductions, at £18.519 billion. But was down 1 pct after mobile termination rate reductions.

The company said it would pay a full year dividend of 8.5 pence per share.

New wave revenues, including ICT, broadband, mobility and managed services, grew by 30 per cent to £3.387 billion.