Uninor, a joint venture between Norway-based Telenor Group and Indian real estate firm Unitech, has reported a 12% increase in its operating losses in the first quarter of the calendar year 2011 (Q1CY11). Its operating losses widened, from NOK 1113 million (around R934.9 crore) in Q1CY10 to NOK 1,246 million (R1,046.6 crore) in Q1CY11. Losses incurred have been mainly on account of tariff pressures and low average revenue per user (arpu) prepaid subscriber base. The company is still expanding its operations in India. However, its first quarter of CY2011 revenues zoomed to NOK 548 million (R460 crore) from NOK 56 million (R47 crore) in the first quarter of the previous year.
“Uninor continued the trend from the second half of 2010, with subscriber growth of 5.2 million, reaching 17.4 million. Authorities continue their investigations of the 2G licence award process that took place early 2008, prior to Telenor?s entry to Uninor.
Telenor welcomes any clarity on these issues,? said Fredrik Baksaas, president and CEO, Telenor Group. Unitech?s MD Sanjay Chandra, who is being interrogated regarding the 2G spectrum scam, is lodged in Tihar Jail for over two weeks now.