The mobile carrier reported a third quarter net profit of $11 million, 65% down on the corresponding quarter

Mobile carrier Partner Communications Ltd. (Nasdaq: PTNR; TASE: PTNR) today reported $316 million (NIS 1.11 billion) revenue for the third quarter of 2013, 15% less than for the corresponding quarter of 2012. Services revenue fell 17% to $269 million.

Net profit totaled $11 million (NIS 38 million – NIS 0.24 per share) for the third quarter, 65% less than for the corresponding quarter.

Average revenue per user (ARPU) was NIS 24 per month in the second quarter, 13% less than in the corresponding quarter. The carrier had 2.95 million subscribers at the end of September, 3% fewer than a year earlier.

Despite these figures, Partner CEO Haim Romano was upbeat in his comments. “I am encouraged by the initial signs of improvement in the business environment. The results for the third quarter of 2013 reflect the ongoing trend of improvement that began in previous quarters, as a result, among others, of Partner’s strategic decision to persevere in investing in outstanding customer service, its continuous investment in developing an advanced technological infrastructure and the adjustment of its cost structure to one appropriate for market conditions, all this despite the challenging competitive environment,” said Romano.

“In this quarter, the company recruited a net 29,000 subscribers to its cellular subscriber base. This impressive addition to the subscriber base – the first in two years – and the improvement in ARPU, since the previous quarter, demonstrate the trust of the customers and the successful implementation of the company’s strategy.”