Mobile operator MTN saw subscriber numbers in SA grow by 3,2% in the quarter ended 31 March 2012, although there was a decline in average revenue per user (Arpu) in both the prepaid and postpaid markets. The group as a whole reported subscriber growth of 3,7% for the quarter.

The group recorded 170,6m subscribers, up from the 164,5m at the end of December 2011.

MTN SA contributed 13,3% to the group’s subscriber base and, according to MTN, delivered a “sound performance in a mature market”. The SA operation has 22,7m customers.

The postpaid segment in SA outperformed prepaid, with an increase in the subscriber base of 4,4% compared to 2,9% for prepaid. MTN SA attributes the postpaid growth to its data packages.

Blended Arpu in SA declined by 7,9%, which MTN says is due to the reduction in mobile termination rates — the fees operators charge each other to field calls on their networks. Postpaid and prepaid Arpu declined by 6,7% and 8,1% respectively.

MTN Nigeria contributed 25,1% to the group’s subscriber base and increased its customers numbers by 3% for the quarter. Arpu in naira declined by 1,1% for the quarter.

MTN Irancell, meanwhile, contributed 21,6% to group’s subscriber numbers. On a proportional basis — taking MTN’s 49% ownership into account — Irancell’s contribution was 11,9%. It grew its subscriber base by 6,2% and increased its share of the market for the quarter. Local-currency Arpu increased by 3,7% for the period, which MTN attributes to improved network quality.

Data, including SMS, contributes 14,4% to the group’s revenue, driven mainly by MTN SA.