News 2002
Virgin Mobile attracts over quarter of a million new customers in best Christmas sales period yet
03/01/2002
- 264,359 net connections in Q4 (172,089 in Q3 2001
- Rate of growth increases by 54% against Q3 2001
- 1,445,492 net customers (as at 31st December 2001
- 770,549 net connections during 2001
- Rate of growth increases by 32% year on year 2000 to 2001
The growth in Q4 brings the total number of new customers acquired by Virgin Mobile in 2001 to 770,549, and its total customer base up to 1,445,492.
Against every measure, sales figures are up, with 32% growth year on year, and Virgin Mobile's other key business measures are ahead of target, with the company expected to enter profitability in the early part of 2002. The business is now in a position where its operating costs, except for acquisitions, are covered by revenues. While other networks are yet to release their figures, it is expected that, as in Q3 2001, Virgin Mobile will continue to be the only network to accelerate and grow more than during the same period in the previous year. According to analyst's estimates* Virgin Mobile will have more than tripled its market share in the fourth quarter 2001, compared to the same period in 2000. Virgin Mobile's performance is a noteworthy achievement, given its relatively limited distribution compared with the other four networks.
Virgin Mobile's expansion into Carphone Warehouse, The Link, Dixons, Phone People and Argos helped provide the company's strong growth in Q4, bringing the total number of distribution outlets to well over 5,000. The operator plans to increase its presence in the country's major supermarkets, Virgin Megastores and V.SHOPs, and to continue expanding its retail presence in Britain's High Streets in 2002.
Virgin Mobile's Sir Richard Branson said: "This is a fantastic end to 2001, our second year of trading, and a great beginning of 2002. We have continually outperformed market trends, despite not having pursued a dramatically-subsidised pricing policy in order to attract customers. We have instead offered a simple-to-understand, good value service. We are delighted with our sales figures, and to welcome so many new customers to the benefits of Virgin Mobile. We look forward to many more exciting developments for Virgin Mobile in a profitable 2002."
*According to Investec Henderson Crosthwaite Securities, Sunday Telegraph, pB1, 30th December 2001. Q4 2001 sales were estimated to have been 1.5m, versus 5.7m in 2000. Virgin Mobile's sales in Q4 2001, at 264,359 represent an 18% market share. Virgin Mobile's sales in Q4 2000 at 262,043 represent a 5% market share.
Notes to Editors
For further information please contact:
Press office on 0845 600 6272 or pressoffice@virginmobile.com
Alison Bonny - 07802 430 276
Steven Day - 07931 777 777
Julia Clark - 0207 208 2359
Jo Cotton - 0207 208 2352
About Virgin Mobile:
Virgin Mobile is now established as the most successful virtual network operator in the world, and is the UK's fifth network. Since its launch in November 1999 it has attracted nearly 1.5 million customers, making it one of the fastest growing mobile phone companies in history.
Virgin Mobile is a 50:50 joint venture company between Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group and Deutsche Telekom's One 2 One, and is the UK's first mobile virtual operator.
It has scored a number of firsts, including being the first operator to scrap peak rate calls, introduce a daily discounting tariff, the first company in the world to introduce an integrated MP3 mobile phone and the first company to offer all of its customers a content-rich voice portal with the launch of its 4321 service.
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 5,000 outlets including Virgin Megastore, Our Price, V.SHOP, Sainsbury, Tesco, WH Smith, Co-op, Asda, Somerfield, John Lewis, Littlewoods, Morrisons, Argos, Phone People, The Link, Dixons and Carphone Warehouse.
