(Associated Press via NewsEdge) Maxis Communications, Malaysia's largest mobile phone company, said fourth-quarter net profit rose 51% on stronger domestic operations as well as higher contributions from its Indian unit.
Maxis said net profit for the quarter ending December 31 came in at 642 million ringgit ($183.65 million), up from revised 425 million ringgit ($121 million) in corresponding period a year earlier.
Revenue rose 26% on year to 2.12 billion ringgit ($606.43 million).
Pre-tax earnings from the company's local operations rose 13%, boosted by 400,000 new subscribers it added in the quarter, and from higher total usage.
Profit from Maxis' Indian unit, Aircel , rose 82% in the fourth quarter to 89 million ringgit ($25.46 million) from the previous quarter, the company said. It also racked up 439,000 additions to its subscriber base.
Comparable year-on-year data was unavailable as Aircel was only added as a majority-held subsidiary from March last year.
But Maxis said its other international venture, the 51% owned PT Natrindo Telepon Seluler in Indonesia, lost money, posting a 21 million ringgit ($6 million) pre-tax loss for the quarter. That figure was down 71% from the preceding quarter.
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