Check out this measly growth in StarHub's home broadband customer count

It admits competition is getting tougher.

According to a release, for the quarter, operating revenue rose 2% year-on-year (YoY) to S$585.9 million compared to S$572.2 million.

For the YTD, it increased 4%. In both instances, the increases were contributed by higher service revenue and sales of equipment. For the quarter, the Group’s EBITDA increased 13% to S$188.1 million and 11% YTD to S$544.0 million. EBITDA margin as a percentage of service revenue was 33.9% for the quarter and 32.7% for YTD.

In 3Q2012, profit from operations came in at S$120.5 million, net profit after tax was at S$96.2 million and free cash flow at S$151.0 million. Compared to a year ago, profit from operations increased 24% for the quarter and 20% YTD.

Net profit after tax rose 27% for the quarter and 22% YTD. Free cash flow increased 2% for the quarter but decreased 5% YTD. Cash capital expenditure was at S$59.6 million for the quarter or 29% higher YoY and at S$157.4 million YTD or 21% higher.

The residential broadband customer base grew 1% YoY, ending the quarter with 443,000 customers. The average monthly churn was 1.5% for the quarter. This was contributed by more competitive offers by new players in the market and the non-renewal of some lower speed broadband plans customers when their promotional term contracts expired.

Fixed Network revenue increased 10% to S$89.9 million. Data & Internet services revenue, which makes up 83% of the Fixed Network revenue, increased 8% from a year ago. The increase was attributed to higher take-up of our domestic data and Internet services, coupled with increase in solutions sales.

Voice services revenue rose 20% to S$15.6 million YoY, primarily due to a higher subscription of local voice services and increased interconnect revenue. YTD, Voice services revenue at S$45.5 million was 11% higher.

The number of households subscribing to all three services (fixed network, data & internet, voice) increased by 3% or 6,200 to 212,000 households YoY. The total number of hubbing households with at least one StarHub service totalled 786,000. The number of households taking more than one StarHub service was stable at 57% YoY. 

Service revenue for both the quarter and YTD periods recorded growth. Segment-wise, Mobile revenue decreased 1% to S$303.3 million for the quarter but increased 1% to S$916.1 million YTD.

Post-paid mobile services revenue was 1% lower YoY for the quarter but 3% higher at S$734.8 million YTD. Pre-paid mobile services revenue decreased 2% YoY to S$60.5 million for the quarter and was 4% lower YTD.

Compared to a year ago, post-paid ARPU remained stable. YTD, it increased S$1 to S$74. This increase was due to a higher mix of SmartSurf mobile plans. Pre-paid ARPU also remained stable YoY at S$19 but was lower by S$1 YTD. The lower YTD ARPU was caused primarily by lower voice and SMS usages.

Pay TV revenue increased 6% to S$99.2 million for the quarter and 8% YTD. For the quarter, Pay TV ARPU saw a S$2 increase to S$52. This was the result of the S$2 monthly subscription price increase implemented since August 2011, increased revenue from rental of HD set-top box and higher advertising revenue.

YTD, Pay TV ARPU was at S$53 or a 7% increase. The customer base was stable at 541,000 and the average monthly churn for the quarter was 1.2%.

Broadband revenue increased 4% to S$62.7 million for the quarter compared to a year ago. YTD, revenue came in at S$5.5 million higher to S$186.5 million. We saw a S$1 ARPU increase for the quarter and YTD to S$46. The higher ARPUs were credited to a higher mix of customers on the higher speed plans.