BERTRANGE, Luxembourg, July 09, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Millicom International Cellular S.A. (MIC) (Nasdaq:MICC):
- 28% annual growth in total subscribers to 4.5 million* - 25% annual growth in proportional subscribers to 3.1 million* - Best ever quarterly subscriber additions recorded in Asia
Millicom, the global telecommunications investor, announced today that in the second quarter of 2003 its worldwide operations in Asia, Latin America* and Africa added 223,121 net new cellular subscribers, resulting in an increase of over 5% from the total subscribers recorded at March 31 2003. On a proportional basis, 121,352 subscribers were added.
At June 30, 2003, MIC's worldwide cellular subscriber base* increased by 28% to 4,471,835 cellular subscribers from 3,483,573 as at June 30, 2002. Particularly significant percentage increases were recorded in Ghana, Cambodia, Senegal and Vietnam. Sanbao Telecom recorded best ever net additions, adding 218,237 subscribers in the quarter, whilst MIC Africa recorded its best quarterly result for 2 years, adding 20,955 subscribers. Subscriber numbers for MIC Latin America were lower than for the previous quarter due to the removal of inactive, non-revenue generating subscribers in South America.
At June 30, 2003, MIC had 3,083,955 proportional cellular subscribers*, an increase of 25% from the 2,472,960 proportional subscribers reported at June 30, 2002.
Cellular Operations (i)
Proportional Proportional Annua Total Total Annua (ii) (ii) lized Subs at Subs at lized Subs at Subs at Incre June 30, June 30, Incre June 30, June 30, ase 2003 2002 ase 2003 2002 Asia 1,444,201 1,038,880 39% 2,328,731 1,607,647 45% Latin 1,393,363 1,255,495 11% 1,798,128 1,597,531 13% America* Africa 246,391 178,585 38% 344,976 278,395 24% Total 3,083,955 2,472,960 25% 4,471,835 3,483,573 28% Cellular Ops*
(i) All numbers and comparatives exclude divested
operations
(ii) Proportional subscribers are calculated as the sum of
MIC's percentage ownership of subscribers in each operation.
* Excluding El Salvador
Within the 3,083,955 proportional cellular subscribers* reported at theend of the second quarter, 2,764,099 were pre-paid customers,representing a 31% increase on the 2,110,002 proportional prepaidsubscribers* recorded at the end of June 2002. Pre-paid subscriberscurrently represent 90% of gross reported proportional cellularsubscribers.
Millicom International Cellular S.A. is a global telecommunicationsinvestor with cellular operations in Asia, Latin America and Africa. Itcurrently has a total of 16 cellular operations and licenses in 15countries. The Group's cellular operations have a combined populationunder license (excluding Tele2) of approximately 382 million people. Inaddition, MIC provides high-speed wireless data services in fivecountries. MIC also has a 6.0% interest in Tele2 AB, the leadingalternative pan-European telecommunications company offering fixed andmobile telephony, data network and Internet services to 17.7 millioncustomers in 22 countries. The Company's shares are traded on theLuxembourg Bourse and the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol MICC.
This press release may contain certain "forward-looking statements" withrespect to our expectations and plans, strategy, management'sobjectives, future performance, costs, revenues, earnings and othertrend information. It is important to note that our actual results inthe future could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements depending on various important factors. Please referto the documents we have filed with the U.S. Securities and ExchangeCommission under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,including our most recent annual report on Form 20-F, for a discussionof certain of these factors.
All forward-looking statements in this press release are based oninformation available to us on the date hereof. All written or oralforward-looking statements attributable to Millicom InternationalCellular S.A, any Millicom International Cellular S.A members or personsacting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by thefactors referred to above. We do not intend to update these forward-looking statements.Visit MIC's homepage at http://www.millicom.com
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