Earnings at Malaysia’s leading cellco Maxis fell 7% in 2009 due to higher interconnect charges and allowance for doubtful debts.
Maxis posted full-year ebitda of RM4.33 billion ($1.27b), down 1%, on 2% higher revenues of RM8.61 billion.
The results for the recently relisted firm were in line with analyst expectations.
But its growth was overshadowed by second-ranked Malaysian mobile operator Celcom, which delivered 11% ebitda growth year on year.
On a quarterly basis, Maxis reported a 2.6% revenue increase thanks to prepaid and mobile broadband subs growth.
For FY10, management is targeting “high single digit” revenue growth and hopes to maintain ebitda margin via cost management.
A 6 sen single-tier tax exempt interim dividend was declared while another 3 sen final dividend was proposed.
Dividends from Maxis will be needed to fund the parent firm’s privately-owned Indian operation Aircel.