Taipei, May 15, 2008 (CENS)--Throughout the first four months this year, Taiwan Mobile Corp. made NT$1.89 per share in after-tax income while Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd. earned NT$1.55. Far EasTone Telecom Co., Ltd. will pay shareholders dividend from last year`s operation that represents investment yield rate of 6.1%, the fattest rate of all the three telecom carriers.

In the first four months this year, Taiwan Mobile earned NT$5.5 billion (US$184 million at US$1:NT$30) in after-tax net income, or NT$1.89 per share, on consolidated revenue of NT$22.9 billion (US$764 million). In the meantime, its operating income is NT$7.56 billion (US$252 million).

In April alone, Taiwan Mobile`s consolidated revenue was NT$5.7 billion (US$190 million), down 1.7% from a month earlier, and its operating income as well as after-tax net income were NT$1.93 billion (US$64 million) and NT$1.35 billion (US$45 million), respectively.

Taiwan Mobile`s executives ascribed the revenue recession mostly to eligible request by its local-call subscribers and pre-paid card holders to cut connection rate by 4.88% in the second year of their subscriptions. However, a 3.3% increase in voice traffic allowed the company to offset the impact of the rate cut to a moderate a 1.7% decline

The company`s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) margin for April was 46.6%, mostly thanks to reduced bad debt expense and well controlled marketing spending. Its fixed-line service`s EBITDA margin for April was 20.7% as a result of increased international-connection and data-communications incomes.

Chunghwa Telecom had after-tax net income of NT$14.8 billion (US$494 million), or NT$1.55 per share, throughout the first four months this year, accomplishing 34.7% of annual goal. Last month alone, the company had income of NT$4.1 billion (US$136 million), or NT$0.43 per share.

The firm`s April operating income was NT$5.1 billion (US$170 million), helping swell its income for the first four months to NT$20.9 billion (US$699 million).

In the competition of 2007 yield rate, Far EasTone was the champion with NT$3.1 per share as dividend for shareholders, an amount equal to a 6.1% yield from investment in the company. Chunghwa`s estimated NT$4.33 dividend pay is equal to a 5.5% return while Taiwan Mobile`s NT$2.54 per share pay is equal to 4.4%.
(by Ken Liu)