As at 31 December 2007, Vodacom Group recorded 33.0 million customers across its networks operating in South Africa, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho and Mozambique, reflecting a 4.7% increase in the three months since 30 September 2007.
The growth in the customer base is a result of high gross customer connections of 4.8 million for the quarter. The group's non-South African operations comprised 8.8 million customers, or 26.6% of the total customer base.
Year on year, revenue for the nine months ended 31 December 2007 increased by 17.3% to R35.7 billion, while total group customers increased by 17.1% since 31 December 2006.
SA increased its customer base by 4.1% since 30 September 2007 to 24.3 million customers. SA's customer base includes 3.4 million contract customers and 20.7 million prepaid customers, reflecting an increase of 0.7% and an increase of 4.7% since 30 September 2007, respectively.
Vodacom SA estimates that its market share was 55.6% at 31 December 2007.
Vodacom SA customers, year to date ARPU and churn as at 31 December 2007, compared to 30 September 2007, are as follows:
| South Africa | 30 September 2007 | 31 December 2007 | % change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customers (thousands) | 23 297 | 24 255 | 4.1 |
| Contract | 3409 | 3 432 | 0.7 |
| Prepaid | 19 790 | 20 720 | 4.7 |
| Community services | 98 | 103 | 5.1 |
| ARPU (ZAR) | 119 | 123 | 3.4 |
| Contract | 487 | 485 | (0.4) |
| Prepaid | 59 | 62 | 5.1 |
| Community services | 711 | 707 | (0.6) |
| Churn (%) | 45.9 | 43.6 | (2.3 pts) |
| Contract | 8.3 | 8.1 | (0.2 pts) |
| Prepaid | 51.9 | 49.4 | (2.5 pts) |
Vodacom's non-South African operations has increased its total customer base by 6.3% since 30 September 2007 to 8.8 million customers.
Satisfactory customer growth was achieved in all Vodacom's non-South African operations, most notably Lesotho with a 9.9% increase and Mozambique with an 11.9% increase in its customer base.
Vodacom's non-South African operations' customers, year to date ARPU and churn as at 31 December 2007, compared to 30 September 2007, are as follows:
| Non-South African operations | 30 September 2007 | 31 December 2007 | % change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vodacom Tanzania | |||
| Customers (thousands) | 3678 | 3945 | 7.3 |
| Contract | 13 | 15 | 15.4 |
| Prepaid | 3654 | 3921 | 7.3 |
| Public phones | 11 | 9 | (18.2) |
| ARPU (ZAR) | 48 | 50 | 4.2 |
| Churn (%) | 46.8 | 46.0 | (0.8 pts) |
| Other African operations | |||
| Vodacom Congo | |||
| Customers (thousands) | 3178 | 3269 | 2.9 |
| Contract | 20 | 21 | 5.0 |
| Prepaid | 3,102 | 3,183 | 2.6 |
| Public phones | 56 | 65 | 16.1 |
| ARPU (ZAR) | 64 | 59 | (7.8) |
| Churn (%) | 43.3 | 46.1 | 2.8 pts |
| Vodacom Lesotho | |||
| Customers (thousands) | 332 | 365 | 9.9 |
| Contract | 4 | 4 | - |
| Prepaid | 323 | 355 | 9.9 |
| Public phones | 5 | 6 | 20.0 |
| ARPU (ZAR) | 72 | 74 | 2.8 |
| Churn (%) | 17.9 | 18.1 | 0.2 pts |
| Vodacom Mozambique | |||
| Customers (thousands) | 1079 | 1207 | 11.9 |
| Contract | 18 | 22 | 22.2 |
| Prepaid | 1,060 | 1,174 | 10.8 |
| Public phones | 1 | 11 | >200 |
| ARPU (ZAR) | 27 | 27 | - |
| Churn (%) | 57.3 | 59.6 | 2.3 pts |
