Eircom posted a 1 per cent dip in second-quarter core earnings today, but revenues from broadband in the period rose more then anticipated.
Eircom, whose books are being inspected by Swiss group Swisscom over a potential takeover, said adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA), fell to €149 million in the quarter from €150 million a year earlier.
Revenue in the three months to the end of September rose 1 per cent to €403 million from €399 million. The mid-range analysts' forecasts had been for a 3.4 per cent rise in EBITDA to €152 million and for a slight dip in revenue to €396 million.
Explaining the revenue rise, Eircom said growth in broadband connections and interconnect traffic had helped to offset the global trend of declining minutes spent on voice calls.
Operating costs had been well controlled although non-cash pension charges from a pension deficit, and payments associated with a sharp increase in interconnect traffic had driven costs above last year's levels.
The group said it would not comment further on the Swisscom bid.