Vodacom has lifted its interim dividend by 36,5% to R3,55/share on the back of a strong financial performance, particularly in its non-South African operations, in the six months ended 30 September 2012.

Outside South Africa, Vodacom’s service revenue grew by 36,4%, with earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) surging by 92,3%.

In its home market of South Africa, the group managed to lift its profit margin, with the Ebitda margin rising by two percentage points to 37,9%. This was despite much tougher price competition in the South African market.

“We controlled costs well, with the end result that despite aggressive competition and an inflationary cost environment, we actually managed to increase margins,” says group CEO Shameel Joosub.

Group Ebitda increased by 14,5%, with headline earnings per share rising by 22,2% to R3,96.

Data was once again the big driver of top-line growth, with data revenues up by 20,2%, representing 15,9% of service revenue. There was a 42,3% increase in active data customers to 17,6m an a 35,5% increase in the number of smartphone active on Vodacom’s network in South Africa.