T-Mobile USA added 901,000 net new customers in Q3, compared with 1,092,000 added in the second quarter of 2004 and 670,000 in the third quarter of 2003. About 90% of the growth in the third quarter of 2004 came from new postpay customers, which currently comprise 89% of the customer base. Some highlights for the quarter:
- $788 million in Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization (OIBDA) in Q3 2004, reaching a record OIBDA margin of 30%
- Net Income was $254 million
- T-Mobile USA service revenues, which consist of postpay, prepaid, and roaming and other service revenues, were $2.61 billion in Q3, up from $2.46 billion in Q2 2004 and $1.90 billion in Q3 2003. In addition to high customer growth, revenue increases in 2004 reflect inclusion of two new components compared to 2003: Universal Service Fund ("USF") recovery fees and regulatory cost recovery fees.
- Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) was $55 in the quarter, consistent with $55 in Q2 2004 and up from $54 in Q3 2003.
- Postpay churn averaged 2.6% per month in the quarter, up from 2.4% in Q2 2004, and down from 2.7% in Q3 2003. Blended churn, a mix of postpay and prepaid customers, was 3.0%, up from 2.8% in Q2 2004 and down from 3.3% in Q3 2003.
- The average cost of acquiring a customer, Cost Per Gross Add (CPGA) was $301 in Q3, down from $318 in Q2 2004, and $334 in Q3 2003.
- The average cash cost of serving customers, Cash Cost Per User ("CCPU", as defined in the footnotes to the Selected Data, below), was $24 per customer per month in Q3, an increase from $23 in Q2 2004 and consistent with $24 in Q3 2003.
- Capital expenditures were $453 million, down from $664 million in Q2 2004 and up from $407 million in Q3 2003.
