KUALA LUMPUR: Telekom Malaysia Bhd posted net profit of RM179.07 million versus the net loss of RM165.82 million a year ago, aided by an unrealised foreign exchange gain of RM45.5 million unlike an unrealised forex loss of RM195.7 million a year ago.

It said on Nov 20 that revenue rose 1.9% to RM2.1 billion from RM2.06 billion a year ago. Earnings per share were 5.1 sen compared with loss per share of 4.8 sen.

TM said the higher revenue was mainly due to higher revenue from data services, Internet and multimedia, other telecommunication related services and non-telecommunication related services net of declining voice revenue.

Data services revenue rose 14.3% from RM309.7 million in 3Q08 to RM353.9 million in 3Q09 as demand for higher bandwith services rose.

Internet and multimedia revenue grew 7% from RM390.6 million in 3Q08 to RM417.9 million in 3Q09, underpinned by growth in broadband customers (excluding Hotspot customers) from 1.23 million in 3Q08 to 1.40 million in 3Q09.

TM's operating profit before finance cost rose 186.1% to RM212.3 million from RM74.2 million a year ago. This was mainly due to higher revenue, lower depreciation charge in current year quarter and loss on disposal of an equity investment in 3Q08.

While TM recorded an economic loss of RM33 million in 3Q09, this was an improvement of RM155.1 million from the economic loss of RM188.1 million in 3Q08. This was contributed to by higher net operating profit after tax, up 190% to RM104.3 million and  lower economic charge by RM50.8 million (down 20.9%) on year.

It added the higher net operating profit after tax was mainly contributed by higher earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) by RM138.1 million (186.1%) due to increase in revenue, lower depreciation and the absence of one-off loss on disposal of an equity investment.