Switzerland’s largest telecommunications company, Swisscom, says tougher competition will keep its sales and profit under pressure in 2010.
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The company made a net profit of SFr1.925 billion ($1.78 billion) in 2009 when lower depreciation charges helped to offset weaker domestic demand.
The former state monopoly said in a statement that its key Swiss business would continue to decline this year as a result of ongoing competition, unbundling and a levelling-off of growth in the mobile and broadband market.
Swisscom’s fourth-quarter profit was SFr401 million, below analysts’ average expectations of SFr438 million.
The group’s Italian broadband operator, Fastweb, has reported a 2009 net profit of €35.6 million (SFr52.2 million).
Swisscom bought Fastweb in 2007, returning to a more aggressive strategy to counter lacklustre growth at home.
The company’s share price rose 16.5 per cent in 2009. The board of directors is to propose a dividend of SFr20 (SFr19 for 2008) at the annual shareholders’ meeting.
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If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.