Cingular Wireless Reports First-Quarter Results: Solid Subscriber
Growth, Improved Margins, Continued GSM Success - First-quarter net
adds total 554,000, to reach 24.6 million cellular/PCS subscribers;
2.5 million net gain over the past four quarters ATLANTA, April 20
/PRNewswire/ -- Cingular Wireless LLC, a joint venture between SBC
Communications and BellSouth Corporation , today reported
first-quarter 2004 results shaped by continued solid subscriber
growth, rapid progress in its GSM/GPRS conversion, and a 580 basis
point sequential improvement in operating margins, in line with
goals outlined by the company in January. For the three months
ended March 31, 2004, Cingular achieved net subscriber additions of
554,000, bringing its nationwide cellular/PCS customer base to 24.6
million - up 2.5 million over the past four quarters. Gross
customer additions in the first quarter totaled 2.5 million,
marking Cingular's third consecutive quarter with gross adds at or
above 2.5 million. Average monthly subscriber churn declined 10
basis points sequentially to 2.7 percent, driven by a decline in
postpaid retail subscriber churn. Wireless local number
portability, implemented in November of 2003, continues to have
minimal impact on Cingular's subscriber results. As it has
sustained solid subscriber growth, Cingular continues to move
forward aggressively toward completion of its nationwide network
overlay of next-generation GSM/GPRS technology. At the end of the
first quarter, Cingular's GSM/GPRS network was available to 94
percent of the company's operational POPs, up from approximately 56
percent a year earlier. Cingular now expects to achieve 100 percent
GSM/GPRS network coverage by July of this year. At the end of the
first quarter, more than 53 percent of Cingular's handsets in
service were GSM capable, up from 22 percent a year earlier and 45
percent at the end of 2003. Approximately 66 percent of Cingular's
total minutes are now carried on its GSM network. GSM provides the
truest voice quality in wireless. GSM is the world's most popular
wireless technology, and it provides customers the widest selection
of handsets in the industry with features such as color screens,
built-in cameras and the latest data services. "Cingular continues
to execute very well," said Stan Sigman, President and CEO of
Cingular Wireless, "In the first quarter, we sustained good
momentum in subscriber growth. We improved margins. We introduced
innovations in customer care, such as our new personalized summary
of customers' service plans available within minutes of signing up
for service. And we continued our nationwide drive to improve
coverage and network quality. "In February, Cingular Wireless took
a huge step forward when we agreed to acquire AT&T Wireless,"
Sigman continued. "This transaction will strengthen our nationwide
coverage and help us deliver great service for customers. It will
give us a terrific platform for innovation and new services. And,
it will provide expanded opportunities for growth in the years
ahead. "Coverage and scale are key, but sustained success in
wireless comes from doing a great job on the fundamentals," Sigman
said. "And the fundamentals for our business are network
performance and customer care. These are the execution areas where
Cingular is intensely focused in 2004, as we move toward finalizing
our acquisition of AT&T Wireless. And these are the areas where
we intend to excel as we move our business forward." Financial
Results Major drivers of Cingular's first-quarter financial results
were solid subscriber growth coupled with aggressive execution in
terms of GSM network build, network expansion and customer service
initiatives. - First-quarter revenues grew to $3.9 billion, up 8.4
percent compared with the year-earlier first quarter. Service
revenues increased 4.8 percent to $3.6 billion. - Cellular/PCS data
revenue increased 53 percent year-over-year, largely due to the
rising popularity of text messaging, as well as downloadable
ringtones and photo messaging. Cingular delivered more than 1.3
billion text messages during the quarter, almost double the volume
in the first quarter of 2003. - Cellular/PCS ARPU (average revenue
per user), which represents service revenue per subscriber, was
$47.95, down 2.2 percent from the fourth quarter of 2003 and down
5.5 percent from the year-earlier first quarter. However, during
the first quarter, Cingular saw improving ARPU trends, with March
results up from January and February levels. - Total operating
expenses were $3.4 billion in the first quarter, down 5.6 percent
versus $3.6 billion in the fourth quarter of 2003 and up 15.8
percent from $2.9 billion in the year-ago period. - Cingular's
operating margin improved substantially from fourth-quarter 2003
levels, in line with the goals outlined by management in January.
Cingular's operating margin was 14.2 percent, up 580 basis points
from the fourth quarter of 2003 and down 550 basis points from the
first quarter of 2003. (Operating margin is the percentage of
operating income to operating revenue) - First-quarter operating
income was $559 million, compared with $329 million in the fourth
quarter of 2003 and $716 million in the first quarter a year ago.
Agreement To Acquire AT&T Wireless To expand its ability to
serve customers and improve growth prospects, Cingular announced in
February an agreement to acquire AT&T Wireless. Customers of
the new company will have access to the largest network in the
United States, with spectrum in 49 states and coverage in 97 of the
top 100 markets. Today, the combined companies would have 46
million customers, and combined 2003 annual revenues of $32
billion. "AT&T Wireless' first quarter subscriber and revenue
numbers, which were released this morning, are consistent with our
expectations for the quarter," said Sigman. "The release indicates
that management at AT&T Wireless is taking action to address
the issues they are facing, but these results emphasize the
importance of completing this deal as soon as possible." The
Cingular/AT&T Wireless transaction requires approvals from the
U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Communications
Commission. Filings with both agencies were made in mid-March.
Cingular anticipates no delays in the review process and expects
the transaction to close before year end. Product and Service
Initiatives In addition to announcing this transaction, Cingular
made progress on a number of fronts in the first quarter as it
worked to enhance its products and service capabilities. - In
March, Cingular Wireless announced a major customer service
initiative designed to provide customers with a clear, personalized
summary of their service plan within minutes of signing up for
service. The Cingular Service Summary gives new customers
easy-to-understand information about their service plan, a
simulated first bill with expected charges, an example of an
ongoing bill, color-coded coverage maps specific to their calling
plan, and other details about the terms of service. The service
began rolling out on April 5th in company-owned stores in all
markets and will be available in exclusive agent locations later
this summer. Beginning May 22nd, customers will have the ability to
view their Cingular Service Summary on http://www.cingular.com/ .
The Summary is one of several initiatives the company plans to
introduce throughout the year to improve the customer experience. -
Cingular also has launched a new service that lets subscribers
obtain fast and easy access to important account information
directly from their handsets. Called "* (Star) Services" this new
feature essentially puts management of personal account information
in the hands of wireless customers. By simply dialing the
appropriate "star code," Cingular customers can have their current
account balance and/or remaining minutes delivered to their handset
via short-messaging . * (Star) Services also allows customers to
enter a star code to make a bill payment using an interactive voice
response (IVR) feature. - To drive expanded customer options in
data services, Cingular continues to move forward in implementing
EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) high speed data
technology throughout its network and expects to have substantially
all of its markets enabled with the high speed EDGE technology by
the end of this summer. Cingular was the first carrier in the world
to launch EDGE when it turned up its network in Indianapolis in
July 2003. EDGE allows for data rates up to 170 Kbps with average
speeds ranging between 75-135 Kbps. - Cingular also closed its $1.4
billion acquisition of 34 PCS spectrum licenses from NextWave
Telecom Inc. on April 8th. These licenses, covering approximately
83 million potential customers, are for spectrum primarily in
markets where Cingular currently has voice and data operations.
This additional spectrum depth enhances Cingular's ability to
improve network quality, increase capacity and build next
generation services for customers. About Cingular Wireless Cingular
Wireless, a joint venture between SBC Communications (NYSE:SBC) and
BellSouth (NYSE:BLS), serves more than 25 million voice and data
customers across the United States. A leader in mobile voice and
data communications, Cingular is the only U.S. wireless carrier to
offer Rollover(SM), the wireless plan that lets customers keep
their unused monthly minutes. Cingular has launched the world's
first commercial deployment of wireless services using Enhanced
Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) technology. Cingular provides
cellular/PCS service in 43 of the top 50 markets nationwide, and
provides corporate e-mail and other advanced data services through
its GPRS, EDGE and Mobitex packet data networks. Details of the
company are available at http://www.cingular.com/ . Get Cingular
Wireless press releases e-mailed to you automatically. Sign up at
http://www.cingular.com/newsroom . Conference Calls SBC will host
its first quarter earnings conference call, during which Cingular's
earnings results will be discussed, on April 21, 2004. It will be
broadcast live via the Internet at 10 a.m. Eastern time at
http://www.sbc.com/investor_relations . BellSouth's first quarter
earnings conference call, during which Cingular's earnings results
will be discussed, will be held at 10 a.m. Eastern time on April
22, 2004 at http://www.bellsouth.com/investor/ . Forward-looking
Information In addition to historical information, this document
and the conference calls referred to above may contain
forward-looking statements regarding events and financial trends.
Factors that could affect future results and could cause actual
results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the
forward-looking statements include: - the pervasive and
intensifying competition in all markets where we operate; - delay
in closing the acquisition of AT&T Wireless; - failure to
quickly realize capital and expense synergies from the acquisition
of AT&T Wireless as a result of technical, logistical,
regulatory and other factors; - problems associated with the
transition of our network to higher speed technologies; - slow
growth of our data services due to lack of popular applications,
terminal equipment, advanced technology and other factors; sluggish
economic and employment conditions in the markets we serve; - the
final outcome of FCC proceedings, including rulemakings, and
judicial review, if any, of such proceedings; - impact of local
number portability on our growth and churn rates, revenues and
expenses; - enactment of additional state and federal laws,
regulations and requirements pertaining to our operations; and -
the outcome of pending or threatened complaints and litigation.
Such forward-looking information is given as of this date only, and
Cingular assumes no duty to update this information. Cingular
Wireless LLC Income Statement - amounts in millions (unaudited)
Quarter Ended Year to Date 03/31 03/31 % 03/31 03/31 % 2004 2003
Change 2004 2003 Change Operating revenues: Service revenues $3,558
$3,394 4.8% $3,558 $3,394 4.8% Equipment sales 384 244 57.4% 384
244 57.4% Total operating revenues 3,942 3,638 8.4% 3,942 3,638
8.4% Operating expenses: Cost of services 922 821 12.3% 922 821
12.3% Cost of equipment sales 537 396 35.6% 537 396 35.6% Selling,
general and administrative 1,372 1,217 12.7% 1,372 1,217 12.7%
Depreciation and amortization 552 488 13.1% 552 488 13.1% Total
operating expenses 3,383 2,922 15.8% 3,383 2,922 15.8% Operating
income 559 716 (21.9%) 559 716 (21.9%) Interest expense 198 225
(12.0%) 198 225 (12.0%) Minority interest expense 27 24 12.5% 27 24
12.5% Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates (105) (72) 45.8%
(105) (72) 45.8% Other income (expense), net 4 26 (84.6%) 4 26
(84.6%) Income before income tax and cumulative effect of acctng.
chg. 233 421 (44.7%) 233 421 (44.7%) Provision for income taxes 6 2
200.0% 6 2 200.0% Income before cumulative effect of accounting
change 227 419 (45.8%) 227 419 (45.8%) Selected Financial and
Operating Data for Cingular Wireless - amounts in millions, except
customer data in 000s Quarter Ended Year to Date 03/31 03/31 %
03/31 03/31 % 2004 2003 Change 2004 2003 Change (f) (f) Total
Cellular/PCS Customers (a) 24,618 22,114 11.3% 24,618 22,114 11.3%
Net Customer Additions - Cellular/PCS 554 189 192.5% 554 189 192.5%
M&A Activity, Partitioned Customers and/or Other Adjs. 37 - 37
- Churn - Cellular/PCS (b) 2.7% 2.6% +10BP 2.7% 2.6% +10BP ARPU -
Cellular/PCS (c) $47.95 $50.76 (5.5%) $47.95 $50.76 (5.5%) Minutes
Of Use Per Cellular/PCS Subscriber 488 405 20.5% 488 405 20.5%
Licensed POPs - Cellular/PCS (d) 240 235 240 235 Penetration -
Cellular/PCS (e) 10.9% 10.0% 10.9% 10.0% Total Cingular Interactive
Customers 768 835 (8.1%) 768 835 (8.1%) Net Customer Additions -
Cingular Interactive (21) 17 (222.6%) (21) 17 (222.6%) In an effort
to be consistent with emerging industry practices, the income
statement for all periods presented reflects billings to our
customers for the Universal Service Fund (USF) and other regulatory
fees as "Service revenues" and the related payments into the
associated regulatory funds as "Cost of services" expenses.
Operating income and net income for all periods have been
unaffected. Notes: (a) Cellular/PCS subscribers include customers
served through reseller agreements. (b) Cellular/PCS subscriber
churn is calculated by dividing the aggregate number of
cellular/PCS subscribers who cancel service during each month in a
period by the total number of cellular/PCS subscribers at the
beginning of each month in that period. (c) ARPU is defined as
cellular/PCS service revenues during the period divided by average
cellular/PCS subscribers during the period. (d) Licensed POPs
refers to the number of people residing in areas where we and our
partners, Salmon and T-Mobile USA, Inc., have licenses to provide
cellular or PCS service, including the New York City metropolitan
area, and in areas where we have not yet commenced service, such as
the Salt Lake City area. (e) Penetration calculation for 1Q04 is
based on licensed "operational" POPs of 225 million. (f) The
percentage change for the number of customers and net customer
additions is calculated based upon the actual whole numbers.
Cingular Wireless LLC Balance Sheet - amounts in millions
(unaudited) 03/31/2004 12/31/2003 Incr(Decr) %+/- (audited) Assets
Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents 944 1,139 (195) -17.1%
Accounts receivable - net of allowances for uncollectibles 1,576
1,592 (16) -1.0% Inventory 194 273 (79) -28.9% Prepaid expenses and
other current assets 389 296 93 31.4% Total current assets 3,103
3,300 (197) -6.0% Property, plant and equipment - net 10,755 10,939
(184) -1.7% Intangible assets - net 8,772 8,773 (1) 0.0% Other
assets 2,497 2,514 (17) -0.7% Total assets 25,127 25,526 (399)
-1.6% Liabilities and members' capital Current liabilities: Debt
maturing within one year 89 95 (6) -6.3% Accounts payable and
accrued liabilities 2,471 3,092 (621) -20.1% Total current
liabilities 2,560 3,187 (627) -19.7% Long-term debt to affiliates
9,678 9,678 - 0.0% Long-term debt to external parties 2,914 2,914 -
0.0% Total long-term debt 12,592 12,592 - 0.0% Other noncurrent
liabilities 615 604 11 1.8% Minority interests in consolidated
entities 649 659 (10) -1.5% Members' capital 8,711 8,484 227 2.7%
Total liabilities and members' capital 25,127 25,526 (399) -1.6%
DATASOURCE: Cingular Wireless LLC CONTACT: Investor Relations, Kent
Evans, +1-404-236-6203, or , or Jeff Cannon, +1-404-236-5486, or ,
or Media Relations, Clay Owen, +1-404-236-6153, or wireless,
+1-404-538-0124, or , all of Cingular Wireless LLC Web site:
http://www.cingular.com/ http://www.cingular.com/newsroom
http://www.sbc.com/investor_relations
http://www.bellsouth.com/investor
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