News 2001
Virgin Mobile reports accelerating growth in Q1
04/04/2001
- 190,363 net connections in Q1 (compared to 120,895 in Q1 2000)
- A total of 865,306 net customers (674,943 in Q4 2000)
- Rate of growth increases by 54% (Q1 2001 versus Q1 2000)
- Year on year growth of 305% since Q1 2000 (231,713 net customers at end of Q1 2000, 865,306 net customers at end Q1 2001)
- Virgin Mobile accounts for more than a quarter of additions to One2One network
Virgin Mobile, the world's largest virtual network operator, has continued its rapid growth, by attracting over 190,000 new customers in the first three months of 2001.
The company has also announced today that it will be launching Virgin Mobile in Northern Ireland next week.*
Virgin Mobile's growth accounted for more than a quarter (29%) of all new additions to the One 2 One network during the first quarter of 2001 and gives Virgin Mobile a total of 865,306 customers. Since its launch 16 months ago, Virgin Mobile has established itself as the fastest growing mobile company in the UK.
Virgin Mobile estimated around three million new customers bought mobile phones in the first quarter this year, with Virgin Mobile taking a record market share of 6.35% - an increase over 4.63% in the fourth quarter of 2000. Virgin Mobile has increased its customer base by 305% since this time last year.
Sir Richard Branson, chairman of Virgin Mobile, said: "We are delighted with our performance, which shows continual improvement.
"Virgin Mobile has big plans for the rest of 2001. We will continue to concentrate on rapidly increasing our market share, as our rivals become concerned with retention. We also intend to continue widening our distribution, as we sharpen our focus on attracting customers from rival networks.
"This is just the start we needed to 2001. We will continue to expand Virgin Mobile into territories overseas and are delighted today, to have been able to announce our imminent launch into Northern Ireland."
Last month Virgin Mobile was awarded 'Best National Advertising/Marketing and PR Campaign for 2000' by industry magazine Mobile News. This is the second year running that Virgin Mobile has won the award, in only 16 months of operation. The award proves that Virgin Mobile is now the undisputed pace setter for marketing activity in the industry. Virgin Mobile was the only national operator to have won an award at this year's event.
* A separate note on the details of Virgin Mobile's Northern Ireland launch was published this morning and is available from Julia Clark at Consolidated Communications on: 020 7208 2359.
For further information, please call:
Steven Day, Virgin Mobile: 07931 777 777
Debra Burtt or Georgina Annett, Consolidated Communications: 07941 200300 or 07941 251100
Notes to editors:
Virgin Mobile is a 50:50 joint-venture company between Virgin and Deutsche Telekom's One 2 One, and is the UK's first mobile virtual network operator.
Virgin Mobile launched in the UK on November 11th 1999.
In the UK, Virgin Mobile phones are available direct on 0845 6000 600; on the web at www.virgin.com/mobile; or on the High Street at over 3,500 outlets including Virgin Megastores, Our Price, V.SHOP, John Lewis, Asda and Sainsbury.
VirginXtras is Virgin Mobile's unique range of mobile leisure, information and entertainment services. With VirginXtras customers can save 10% off selected Virgin Holidays; 15% off music, videos, DVDs and computer games; and up to 50% off electrical goods such as TVs, stereos, fridges and microwaves compared to typical high street prices. VirginXtras also lets customers get information that is personal and unique to them, and where they live via SMS, WAP, voice and IVR, on a range of topics including music, sport and cinema listings.
Virgin Mobile's achievements include a number of firsts including being the:
- First consumer brand to launch into the UK mobile market
- First to abolish peak rates
- First to offer a daily discounting tariff
- First to offer one simple tariff for all customers
- First to allow customers to pay anyway they like
- First to offer m-commerce services to all customer irrespective of their handsets via VirginXtras
- First in the world to launch a GSM MP3 mobile phone
- First to trial mobile vending in the UK.
