Russian number two mobile phone firm Vimpelcom said on Thursday its third quarter net profit grew by 38 percent in year-on-year terms to $268.4 million, beating analysts’ expectations of $251.9 million.

Revenues were $1.359 billion, 53 percent higher than in the third quarter of 2005 and compared with a Reuters poll of 11 analysts, which produced an average figure of $1.29 billion.

Operating income before depreciation and amortisation (OIBDA) stood at $717.8 million, growing by 60 percent in year-on-year terms.

Experts expected it to be $657.8 million. “All-time high financial figures underline our ability to deliver top line results against strategic priorities, and, with good cost control, drive OIBDA faster than revenue,” the company quoted its Chief Executive Officer Alexander Izosimov as saying.

OIBDA margin, a measure of core operating profitability, was 52.8 percent compared with 51.1 percent in the Reuters poll.

Average monthly revenue per user amounted to $8.7.

The market expected it to be $8.2.

“In Russia, we continued to focus on the quality of our subscriber base, revenue growth and profitability.” Vimpelcom said it had around 53.3 million subscribers as of November 30, 2006, including 5.9 million in the post-Soviet Commonwealth of Independent States outside Russia.

Vimpelcom has operations in Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and has wireless licences in Georgia.

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