Vodacom says it has 51m customers

Group revenue was up 1.7% to R18.3bn‚ and, excluding the sale of Gateway Carrier Services and the impact of movements in foreign currency‚ revenue was up 4.8%. Data revenue was 23.3% higher with active data customers increasing 33.8% to 18.5m in response to higher smartphone penetration resulting in more data bundles being sold.

Vodacom reported continued growth from its ongoing international operations and its service revenue was up 22% supported by strong customer growth and increased adoption of data services.

International data revenue grew by 100%‚ led by 72.6% growth in active M-Pesa customers to 4.7m.

South African service revenue declined by 1.7% due to competitive and economic pressures‚ coupled with a temporary impact from Vodacom's actions to reduce unprofitable calling card1 SIMs.

Chief executive Shameel Joosub said it had been a quarter with strong performances in data and the group's International operations tempered by some challenges in its South African business.

"Our group revenue expanded by 4.8% year-on-year and 7.1% quarter-on-quarter. Group data revenue grew 23% and revenue from the International operations grew 22%.

"Active customer growth across the group was also positive‚ with the International base growing 13% and the South African base growing 12%. While customers increased‚ voice revenue in South Africa was affected by more active competition in a softer economy‚" he said.