Carrier takes a Leap forward by adding 258,000 new subscribers in Q1, plans major changes

SAN DIEGO, April 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Leap Wireless International, Inc. (LEAP), a leading provider of innovative and value-driven wireless communications services, today reported operational and financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2012.  Service revenues for the first quarter of 2012 increased 14.1 percent over the prior year quarter to $774.0 million. The Company reported $130.5 million of adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization (OIBDA) for the first quarter, a 16.0 percent increase over the first quarter of 2011.  First quarter 2012 operating loss was $15.8 million compared to an operating loss of $18.1 million for the first quarter of 2011. 

The Company gained approximately 860,000 gross customer additions in the first quarter of 2012. The Company reported approximately 258,000 net customer additions for the quarter, comprised of approximately 257,000 voice customer additions and 1,000 broadband customer additions.  Customer churn for the first quarter was 3.3 percent, an improvement from 3.9 percent for the fourth quarter of 2011 and up from 3.1 percent for the first quarter of 2011. 

"Our financial and operational results demonstrate the strength of our business and confirm that our strategy continues to deliver, even in the face of a challenging economic and competitive environment," said Doug Hutcheson, Leap's president and chief executive officer.  "Net customer additions were solid, reflecting increased gross customer additions year over year, offset by slightly higher voice churn as well as lower year-over-year broadband gross additions due to the Company's focus on higher-value voice service plans.  We also experienced attractive year-over-year adjusted OIBDA improvement, reflecting service revenue growth and continued focus on cost-management, partially offset by device subsidy costs and investment in our national retail expansion.  Given the measures we are planning for the balance of the year, including expanded distribution, improved device quality and selection, differentiated products like Muve Music, service plan enhancements and customer experience initiatives, we believe the Company is well positioned to move successfully through today's challenging environment, and the volatility taking place in the wireless industry has not changed our positive long-term view."