Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Publicly listed state telecommunication operator PT Indosat Tbk saw its income rising 10.5 percent in the third quarter of 2015 to Rp19.58 trillion from Rp17.72 trillion in the same period last year.

"The income hike was fueled, among others, by an increased number of subscribers and our capability to expand networks that enabled us to provide satisfactory services," PT Indosat President Director and CEO Alexander Rusli said on Friday.

The income hike raised the companys operating profit by 284.3 percent to Rp1.89 trillion in the third quarter of 2015 from Rp491.3 billion in the corresponding period last year.

He said EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization) grew 12.8 percent to Rp8.6 trillion with a margin of 43.8 percent.

Operating expenses rose 2.7 percent due to an increase in telecommunication service burden, depreciation and amortization, wages, marketing expenses and administrative and general expenses.

"Income from cellular services, fixed data or MIDI and fixed lines contributed 82 percent and 14 percent, respectively, to the companys consolidated income," he said.

The number of Indosat subscribers in the third quarter of this year rose 27.3 percent to 69 million from 54.2 million in the corresponding period last year, he said.

The companys debts in the year ending on September 30, 2015 increased 5.1 percent after it secured new loans as part of a program to speed up the settlement of US dollar denominated bonds, he said.

"The appreciation of the US dollar has also contributed to companys increased debts," he said.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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