Telecom operator BTC prioritises wireless, internet services

The telecom group BTC will invest 20% of its projected revenues from fixed and wireless services or EUR 110mn in development of its wireless arm BTC Mobile (traded as vivatel) and improving its internet infrastructure, CEO Bernard Moscheni informed. As the number of customers of fixed services has decreased in the last two years to 2.2mn, which corresponds to 95% of the line market, the telecom will start offering a wider range of services to increase revenues. BTC would launch hosting, outsourcing and management of services to compete with IT companies. The customers base of vivatel stands at 1.1mn at present, corresponding to a market share of 12% in the estimates of BTC. The number of ADSL internet users of BTC has doubled to 2mn in a year. The Group expects the same growth this year, as vivatel will launch number portability as of April 14. The net consolidated profit of BTC dropped 15.6% to BGN 111.6mn (EUR 57.1mn) last year while total sales rose by 2.3% to BGN 1.03bn. BTC raise capital expenditures last year by 41.9% to BGN 716.7mn. The shareholders of BTC will vote on April 14 to distribute EUR 235mn as dividends.