Cingular reports strong subscriber numbers

Cingular today announced its strongest quarter of subscriber growth in more than two years and that it has almost neared completion of its nationwide GSM/GPRS overlay.

The joint venture of SBC Communications and BellSouth reported net additions of 745,000 for the three months ending in September, reversing trends from the previous year that saw Cingular reporting net subscriber losses in the third and fourth quarters. The last quarter’s new subscribers represent a 3.3% uptick in total subscribers and 38% increase in net adds over the second quarter’s 540,000 adds. Cingular now has 23.4 million customers, roughly 16% of U.S. market share, locking it in a close race with AT&T Wireless for the No. 2 spot in overall subscriber base. Verizon Wireless, however, easily holds the lead with 34.6 million customers and 24% market share.

Cingular also announced it has completed its GSM/GPRS overlay on 92% of its legacy TDMA infrastructure, well in advance of its targeted 90% completion by the end of 2003. About 35% of Cingular’s customer base is now converted to the GSM, and data revenue has increased 104% since the third quarter of last year, owing mostly to SMS. Cingular delivered 900 million SMS messages in the quarter. The carrier did not break down how many customers were using its enhanced data service though

Cingular reported total revenues of $4 billion for the quarter, up 4.6% over the same quarter last year. Cingular’s average revenue per user, however, fell .59 cents a month to $48.25.