Iliad Group posts strong customer growth

France’s Iliad Group has posted strong Q3 results, with solid subscriber growth in its home market and in Poland in particular.

In France, where it operates under the Free brand the group added 78,000 net new subs to its fixed-line bsu9iness and 184,000 net new mobile customers.

In Poland, the acquisition of cable operator UPC Poland has resulted in an acceleration of net new subscribers, according to Iliad, with 106,000 new customers, including 54,000 net new fixed line customers.

Iliad said that the finalisation of an agreement to create a new fibre-build company, expected at the beginning of next year, will enable it to further accelerate its growth in the Polish market.

In Italy, where Iliad said it faced an extremely competitive market, the group added 261.000 new mobile customers, enabling it to maintain its leadership position in net new adds.

In fixed, the Italian unit had 86,000 customer at the end  of September.

Iliad posted revenues of €2.15 billion for the quarter, up 12.5%. EBITDAaL was up 8.5% on a proforma basis for the first nine months of the year, at €2.421 billion.

“The period is full of contrasts. We have perhaps never known such good commercial results, but equally never known such an uncertain macroeconomic context. The next few months call for prudence even if our fundamentals remain solid. We are continuing to invest in our networks and to recruit new talent. Iliad is in working order, with the permanent concern to improve, and always achieve the best, for ourselves and for our subscribers,” said CEO Thomas Reynaud.