Multi-play investment pays off for Tele Columbus

Success in selling broadband and phone subscriptions has lifted Germany cable operator Tele Columbus’s performance for the nine months to the end of September.

Tele Columbus said its customers contracts grew by 22% year-on-year in the year to September 30, taking its internet total to 197,000 and its telephony total to 166,000. Services per customer rose from 1.38 to 1.43 over the same period, while blended ARPU rose from €13.30 to €14.

Revenue for the first nine months of the year amounted to €159.3 million, up 3.8% year-on-year, while adjusted EBITDA was €72.9 million, up 45.8%.

Tele Columbus said it would continue to invest in upgrading more areas of its network for two-way communication.

The operator plans to launch an IPO but has not set a time for this.

Tele Columbus acquired one additional network in the third quarter – BIG Medienversorgung in Mönchengladbach with approximately 12,700 connected households – and the remaining shares in joint venture BMB, which also operates a cable network in North Rhine-Westphalia.

“We have a clear strategic focus on sustainable profitable growth and continue to concentrate on increasing the market position and economic strength of Tele Columbus. We are particularly pleased that our investment programme is delivering such tangible benefits, in terms of EBITDA growth, at such an early stage,” said CEO Ronny Verhelst.