April 30 (SeeNews) - Orange Romania, a unit of France Telecom's Internet and mobile arm Orange, said on Thursday its revenues fell 2.9% on the year in the first quarter of the year, to 257.4 million euro ($280 million), impacted by a drop in equipment sales in March due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Orange Romania had 10.768 million customers at the end of March, up 1% on the year, Orange Romania said in an interim financial report.
Mobile Internet traffic surged by 39% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2020 supported by an increase in smartphone sales and by investments in 4G, 4G+ and 5G networks.
TV services had 538,000 customers at end-March 2020, a 4% increase year on year. Fixed broadband services had 362,900 customers at the end of the first quarter, up 20% on the year
"In the first quarter of 2020 we witnessed major changes, as a result of social and economic pressures generated by COVID-19. It is an unprecedented context, in which connectivity proves its indispensable role. That is why, for us, the performance of the network means first of all responsibility, and ensuring the continuity of services at the best standards remains a priority," Orange Romania CEO Liudmila Climoc said.
Last year, Orange Romania's revenues amounted 1.112 billion euro, compared with 1.125 billion euro in 2018.
Romania’s market of just over 19 million people is served by five mobile operators - Orange Romania; Telekom Romania, former Cosmote Romania; RCS&RDS; Vodafone Romania; and insolvent 2K Telecom.
At group level, Orange posted revenues of 10.394 billion euro in the first quarter of 2020, up 1% on the year.
($ = 0.9199 euro)
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