By Marina Mello, The Royal Gazette

Digicel Group yesterday posted record revenue of $2.78 billion for the year ended March 31 with core profits of $1.2 billion.

The mobile operator in Bermuda, the Caribbean, Central America and the Pacific, said revenue rose eight percent over the previous fiscal year, while EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) were up 11 percent year on year to US$1.2 billion for the full year with the most recent quarter contributing US$318 million.

“With subscribers up one percent to 12.9 million across Digicel Group’s 30 markets worldwide, performance has been strong with revenue growth driven in particular by Haiti, Papua New Guinea, Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname,” the Bermuda-incorporated Digicel Group said in a statement.

“As Digicel continues to roll out 4G networks based on HSPA+ technology and to expand the range of smartphones it offers, data and value-added services revenues stood at 23 percent of service revenues — up from 20 percent for the prior year quarter.”

Commenting on the company’s performance, Group CEO, Colm Delves, said: “We are very pleased with the continued growth we are seeing across our markets and with the customer response to the rollout of our 4G networks. We will continue to focus on growing our ICT/Business Solutions portfolio and on driving data usage across our customer base. I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to our dedicated staff and loyal customers and to assure them of our continued commitment to best value, service and network and to growing our communities.”

Digicel said key achievements in the period include:

l Launch of 4G services based on HSPA+ in the British Virgin Islands, Haiti, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago — and LTE in Antigua and Barbuda.

l Completion of the integration of the Voila business and network in Haiti.

l ICT/Business Solutions revenues increased by 94 percent for the year and now represent three percent of services revenues.

l Issuance of a total of US$1.3 billion of Digicel Group Limited senior notes due 2021 at 6% with the proceeds being used to refinance existing notes and for general corporate purposes.

Digicel Group has over 12.9 million customers across its 30 markets.

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