Western Wireless expects to post roaming revenue of $54- $55 mill...
Western Wireless expects to post roaming revenue of $54- $55 million for 4th quarter, reflecting decline in roaming min. as travel dropped off nationwide last fall, Chmn.-CEO John Stanton said. Carrier released preliminary domestic 4th quarter and full-year results…
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and plans to release final numbers Feb. 26. Western Wireless had $63.43 million in roaming revenue in 3rd quarter. Company plans to report service revenue of $208-$211 million for quarter and $874- $877 million for year. Carrier said it expected additional 19,000 subscribers in quarter, with average monthly customer turnover rate of 2.3%. “Our operating results in the 4th quarter were disappointing,” Stanton said. Focus on converting analog subscribers to digital placed “temporary downward pressure on growth and cash flow,” he said. Western Wireless reached new roaming agreements with roaming partners that reflected “value” of its rural markets, he said. “Unfortunately, during the fourth quarter, roaming minutes from all of our partners grew less than we expected as a result of a slowdown in travel nationwide.” In other preliminary wireless financial results: (1) Dobson Communications said it added 45,400 proportionate subscribers in 4th quarter, down from 60,700 in same period last year. Carrier added 166,000 net subscribers in year, meeting projections that it would add 162,000-172,000. Dobson said 28,500 analog customers moved to digital in 4th quarter. Chmn.-CEO Everett Dobson said that “with our transition to digital nearly complete and the relatively low level of penetration in our rural markets, we have ample opportunities for profitable growth.” (2) Alamosa Holdings, largest Sprint PCS affiliate, said it met projected subscriber additions for 4th quarter, adding 99,000. It said subscriber base grew to 503,000 as of end of 2001. However, Churn rate in quarter reached 3.3% and in 2.7%, within guidance for full year. (3) Leap Wireless said it ended 2001 with 1.12 million customers, meeting projection of 1.1 million, and increased customer base 54% in 4th quarter from 724,000, and expected to end 2002 with nearly 2 million.