Telecom Argentina (TEO) reported third-quarter earnings per ADS of 40 cents, falling short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 52 cents. However, reported net income from continuing operations grew 39% year over year to P$303 million (US$79 million), boosted by healthy growth from broadband and mobile segments.   Consolidated revenues increased 13% year over year to P$3.1 billion (US$803 million) as the company’s cellular business grew 13% while broadband business (Arnet) posted healthier annualized growth of 54%. Broadband Internet revenue growth was fueled by significant expansion of broadband service, commercial promotions, innovation of service portfolio and improved network coverage.   The company’s cellular telephony business achieved respectable growth in the quarter with revenue of P$2.1 billion (US$550 million) accounting for approximately 68% of the consolidated sales. Revenues from data transmission grew 25% year over year to P$70 million (US$18 million). Fixed-line voice service revenues increased 3.1% year over ...

Liberty Global Inc. (LBTYA) declared mixed financial results for the third quarter of 2009. Quarterly total revenue of $2.82 billion was an improvement of 7% year-over-year and also better than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.75 billion. This was primarily due to the fabulous growth of Telnet and J:COM operations, which provides broadband services in Belgium and Japan respectively.  Quarterly GAAP net loss was $120.3 million or 45 cents per share compared to a net loss of $308.9 million or $1.01 in the prior-year quarter. However, third quarter net loss from continuing operation was 22 cents per share, above the Zacks Consensus estimate of a loss of 20 cents. Quarterly cost of operation was $1,059.2 million, up 5.5% year-over-year.  Selling, General and Administrative expense was $523.8 million, up 2.4% year-over-year. Third quarter operating income was $463.8 million, up 13.6% year-over-year. During the reported quarter, Liberty Global generated $691.4 ...

CenturyLink (CTL), formerly CenturyTel Inc, announced third-quarter 2009 results with adjusted (excluding non-recurring items or non-GAAP) earnings per share of 90 cents beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 81 cents. Non-recurring items includes integration costs associated with the Embarq acquisition (completed on Jul 1, 2009).  Adjusted net income surged to $269.1 million from $82.8 million registered in the year-ago quarter, driven by the contributions from Embarq. Reported net income (GAAP) of $280.8 million or 94 cents per share, reflects an increase from $84.7 million or 83 cents per share registered a year ago.  Revenue: The company reported operating revenue of $1.87 billion, a significant increase compared to $650 million reported a year ago, fuelled by the Embarq acquisition which contributed $1.3 billion in the quarter. Revenues for voice, network access and data services increased compared to the year-ago quarter.  Subscriber Total access lines at the ...

French telecom giant France Telecom (FTE) has reported operating results for third-quarter 2009 with revenue falling 6.4% year over year to €12.69 billion (US$18.1 billion), primarily due to unfavorable exchange rate fluctuations (British pound versus Polish zloty) and reduced mobile termination rates (inter-operator fees). Revenue was also hurt by the recession-driven discontinuation of landline phone use by customers.       EBITDA & Margin France Telecom, which operates two of the leading telecom brands in Europe (Orange and Wanadoo), reported EBITDA of €4.6 billion (US$6.6 billion) which declined 8% from the year-ago quarter, resulting in a fall in EBITDA margin to 35.9% from 36.6%. This decline is a result of stringent price regulation and adverse currency exchange swings. Revenue by Key Markets Reported revenue in France (46% of group sales), the company’s largest market, declined 1.6% year over year to €5.9 billion (US$8.4 billion) ...

German telecom carrier Deutsche Telekom (DT) and France Telecom (FTE) are merging their UK operations in a 50-50 joint venture. The companies have initiated negotiations and an agreement is likely to be signed by the end of October 2009. If and when the deal is finalized, Deutsche Telekom’s British subsidiary T-Mobile UK will combine with France Telecom’s Orange UK in a historic merger. In the proposed deal, Deutsche Telekom will contribute T-Mobile UK, including the unit’s 50% stake in the 3G wireless joint venture with Hutchison, while France Telecom will add its UK broadband Internet business along with the wireless operation. The companies are likely to retain the Orange and T-Mobile brands for now to prevent customer defection. A new brand, however, is expected within two years. The British mobile market is one of the most fiercely competitive markets in Europe. Currently, Spanish telecom ...

German telecom carrier Deutsche Telekom (DT) and France Telecom (FTE) are finally merging their UK operations in a 50-50 joint venture. The companies reportedly initiated negotiations yesterday and an agreement is likely to be signed by the end of October. If the deal is finalized, Deutsche Telekom’s British subsidiary T-mobile UK will combine with France Telecom’s Orange UK in a historic merger.

In the proposed deal, Deutsche Telekom will contribute T-mobile UK, including the unit’s 50% stake in the 3G wireless joint venture with Hutchison, while France Telecom will add its UK broadband Internet business along with the wireless operation. The companies are likely to retain the Orange and T-mobile brands for now to prevent customer defection. A new brand, however, is expected within two years.

The British mobile market is one of the fiercely competitive markets in Europe. Currently, Spanish telecom giant Telefonica’s (TEF) UK

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Verizon (VZ), the largest US wireless carrier, has increased its quarterly dividend by 3.3% to 47.5 cents per share, equating to approximately 6.3% yield. Annualized, this increases the company’s dividend to $1.90 per share, reflecting 6% growth from the current dividend of $1.84 per share. The quarterly dividend is payable on November 2, 2009, to the shareholders of record as of October 9, 2009. This represents the third consecutive year Verizon has increased its dividend payout in September. The wireless giant raised its quarterly dividend by 7% in September 2008 to 46 cents per share, increasing annual payout by 12 cents per share to $1.84 per share. Verizon remains committed to offer incremental returns to its shareholders leveraging  a heathy free cash flow (cash flow from operations minus capital expenditures). The company reported free cash flow of $6 billion in first-half 2009, reflecting a $1.8 billion ...

Qwest Communications (Q) is reportedly accelerating its network throughput to offer top Internet speed of 100 gigabits per second (Gbps) for its premium enterprise and government customers. The third-largest US regional carrier has already started to upgrade its fiber-based long-haul network infrastructure, which is expected to continue through 2010. Existing long-haul networks deliver top speeds of approximately 40 Gbps. To implement this network enhancement, Qwest is leveraging the technology of Alcatel-Lucent (ALU), which will provide the 100 Gbps Ethernet service routing capabilities. The company aims to be the first carrier to commercially launch 100 Gbps services in the US. However, Verizon (VZ) is also in the race with its 100 Gbps network deployment planned in 2010. Leading carriers across the globe are increasingly focused on accelerating Internet network speeds given rapidly growing demand for greater bandwidth capacity. Qwest has reported that total bandwidth consumption ...

Deutsche Telekom (DT), the largest telecom carrier in Germany, is entering the Indian Internet market in the near future. The European telecom giant recently acquired 17% stake in the Indian telecom operator Devas Multimedia for approximately $75 million. In collaboration with Devas, Deutsche Telekom will offer high capacity radio network based Internet services in the metropolitan areas of India starting from 2010.

The company's expansion initiative into the lucrative Indian telecom market is the result of limited growth opportunity in the mature core European and U.S. markets. Deutsche Telekom's focus recently shifted to the under-penetrated emerging economies in Asia and Africa given the significant potential for growth in these nascent markets.

Deutsche Telekom continues to face a weak economy with further erosion in German fixed-line telephony business due to intense competition. The company is trying to offset declining fixed-line revenue with growth across broadband Internet and wireless.

The Indian telecom market is

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AT&T Inc. (T) has announced the expansion of its U-verse offering with the launch of services in Greenville and Asheville, South Carolina. Residents of these locations will have an alternative option for cable TV starting from August 10, 2009, and will have access to the premium contents and features offered by the company’s U-verse bundled services. AT&T continues to enjoy encouraging market penetration of its U-verse services that bundles U-verse TV, U-verse high-speed Internet and U-verse Voice offerings. In order to drive customer adoption of its U-verse TV (an Internet protocol based TV service), the company has introduced several new features and extensions such as the total Home DVR (digital video recorder), Video-on-Demand and extensive High Definition (HD) channels. To expand its video service offerings, AT&T is also offering a co-branded satellite TV service in collaboration with Direct TV. U-verse video subscriber base reached 1.6 million ...