Iliad sees huge growth across three countries

Iliad Group, which operates fixed and mobile networks in France, Italy and Poland, saw massive growth in its subscriber base and revenues in all three markets last year.

Iliad, which operates under the Free brand in France, added a total of 2.72 million fixed and mobile customers across all three markets, taking the group total to 45.855 million.

In its home market of France, Iliad added a net 607,000 mobile customers, taking its total to 14.218 million, and 255,000 fixed customers, taking its total to 7.18 million. Free added 885,000 fibre customers within that growth.

Fixed line broadband ARPU was up 2.2% at the end of the year to €34.10, while mobile ARPU was up 3.8% to €11.80.

In Italy, Iliad added 1.062 million mobile and 109,000 fixed customers – the latter from a standing start – to reach 9.676 million subscriptions in total.

In Poland, the group added 506,000 mobile customers and 181,000 fixed customers, taking its mobile base to 12.763 million and is fixed base to 2.018 million.

Iliad saw its overall revenues rise by 12.3% to €8.369 billion for the year, boosted by exceptionally strong growth in service revenue in Poland.

Group EBITDAaL stood at €3.303 billion, up 4.7%, while operational free cash flow stood at €1.164 billion, up 74.8%.

Iliad now claims to be the sixth largest telco in Europe in tems of fixed and mobile subscriptions. It said it was the leader in subscriber growth in Italy for the fifth year running, while in Poland the acquisition of mobile operator Play and cable operator UPC Poland had delivered a positive impact.

The year also saw Iliad invest in technology acquisitions, including TV technology specialist Redge in Poland and smartphone reconditioning outfit Certideal in France.

“The 2022 results translate a triple dynamic of investment, innovation, and conquest. In a context of hyperinflation and fierce competition, our financial results are very solid across our three countries. Iliad is the European group with the strongest growth dynamic and these good results will encourage us to continue to reinvent ourselves and to always think about the future,” said CEO Thomas Reynaud.