BELGACOM REPORTS 7.7% RISE IN NET PROFITS IN 1999.

• Position: Company Financial Information

The Belgian telecommunications group Belgacom has reported a consolidated net profit of Euro 435 million (17.6 billion Belgian Francs) for 1999, a 7.7% improvement on the 1998 figure of Euro 404 million (BEF 16.3 billion). Turnover rose 10.3% from Euro 4.2 billion (BEF 170.5 billion) to 4.6 billion (BEF 188.1 billion). Consolidated operating profits are up 17.1% from Euro 780 million (BEF 31.5 billion) to 913 million (BEF 36.8 billion). For Belgacom, 1999 was marked by strong growth of the Data sector (+80%). A Data Networks and Applications (DNA) division was created in November and will aim to become progressively autonomous. In the mobile telephony sector, Belgacom Mobile (Proximus) passed the two million subscribers threshold, with a market share of 65%. Turnover in the sector increased by...