Optus gained 314,000 4G customers last quarter

Optus has announced a net profit of $426 million for the half-year to 30 September, as it gained 314,000 4G customers in just the last quarter.

Half-year operating revenue hit $2.31 billion, up 7 percent from the equivalent period last year. Net profit of $426 million was an 8.3 percent improvement.

With 314,000 customers joining 4G in the September quarter, the telco now has 4.13 million subscribers on that network.

To accompany the faster speeds that 4G facilitates, Optus, owned by Singapore Telecommunications, has increasingly delved into the consumer content layer. The company made headlines in recent weeks for new multi-million dollar content agreements with Cricket Australia and the English Premier League.

"We have successfully captured consumers' growing demand for data through innovative plans and service, investments in our fixed and mobile networks, and compelling entertainment offers," said Optus chief executive Allen Lew.

Optus previously bought content when it owned a pay television service in the 1990s and 2000s, famously fighting bitter battles against Foxtel for sports like rugby league and cricket.

Staffing costs have reduced significantly for the telco, plunging to S$554 million ($552 million) for the half-year, 12 percent down from last year's S$626 million ($624 million). This is despite the number of employees actually increasing, with 9,247 employees at 30 September compared to 9,125 one year prior.