Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. Reports 40% First Quarter 2003 Earnings Increase Over the First Quarter of 2002.Business Editors ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 30, 2003 Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. (AMEX AMEX See: American Stock Exchange :ANK ANK Ankara (Turkey) ANK Attempted, Not Known ANK Alphanumeric Keyboard ANK Anunaki (ancient Sumerian Gods) ), today reported earnings of $2.8 million, or $0.56 per share for the quarter ended March 31, 2003. For the quarter ended March 31, 2002, the Company earned $2.0 million, or $0.40 per share. First quarter earnings for 2003 represent a 40% increase over last year's first quarter. Telephone operating revenues operating revenue Revenue from any regular source. Revenue from sales is adjusted for discounts and returns when calculating operating revenue. Compare other revenue. were $18.1 million as compared to $15.3 million for the first quarter of 2002, an increase of $2.8 million, or 18%. The increase in telephone operating revenue is principally attributable to a 31% increase in local exchange revenue and an 8% increase in international long distance revenue, or $1.9 million and $0.7 million respectively. The increase in local exchange revenue reflects substantial additions of both wireline and cellular subscribers from the prior period. The increase in international long distance revenue was due to an increased volume of traffic following the mandated reduction in international settlement rates for traffic between Guyana Guyana (gīăn`ə, –än`–), officially Co-operative Republic of Guyana, republic (2005 est. pop. 765,000), 83,000 sq mi (214,969 sq km), NE South America. and the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. effective January January: see month. 1, 2002. Cellular subscribers increased from 51,244 on March 31, 2002 to 92,756 on March 31, 2003, an increase of 81%, while wireline subscribers increased from 81,386 to 87,057, reflecting total additions of 5,671, or 7% from the prior period. Total telephone operating expenses Operating expenses The amount paid for asset maintenance or the cost of doing business, excluding depreciation. Earnings are distributed after operating expenses are deducted. were $11.0 million for the first quarter of 2003 compared with $10.2 million for the corresponding quarter of 2002, an increase of 8% or $0.8 million. A reduction of international long distance expense due to the full implementation of the FCC (1) (Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC, www.fcc.gov) The U.S. government agency that regulates interstate and international communications including wire, cable, radio, TV and satellite. The FCC was created under the U.S. mandated reduction in international settlement rates was offset by higher depreciation, power, legal and other expenses related to the expansion of facilities. Cornelius Cornelius, in the New Testament, centurion of an Italian cohort stationed at Caesarea, one of the first Gentile converts and traditionally first bishop of Caesarea. Cornelius Roman centurion baptized by Peter. [N.T.: Acts 10, 11] See : Baptism B. Prior, Jr., Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. said, "We were pleased to read in the Guyana press on March 21, 2003 of President Jagdeo's direction to the Prime Minister, Sam (1) (Security Accounts Manager) The part of Windows NT that manages the database of usernames, passwords and permissions. A SAM resides in each server as well as in each domain controller. See PDC and trust relationship. Hines, to reconvene reconvene Verb to gather together again after an interval: we reconvene tomorrow Verb 1. reconvene - meet again; "The bill will be considered when the Legislature reconvenes next Fall" the Government's negotiating team with respect to talks with ATN ATN Acute tubular necrosis, see there and GT&T representatives begun in Trinidad last April concerning new telecommunications Communicating information, including data, text, pictures, voice and video over long distance. See communications. policy initiatives of the Government of Guyana. In view of this positive development, we have decided not to appeal the recent decision of the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. which held, among other things, that ATN had no private right of action to challenge a proposed loan to Guyana by the IADB IADB abbr. Inter-American Defense Board which we believed would have infringed our contractual rights A contractual right is a claim, on other persons, that is acknowledged and perhaps reciprocated among the principals associated with that claim. Specialized contractual rights exist as part of a "contract" or agreement between persons to whom these rights belong. ." "Our Guyana subsidiary, GT&T, continues to grow strongly, reflecting additional investment last year of $14.5 million and enabling us to expand both our cellular operations and our fixed wireline customers substantially. Teledensity in Guyana (phone lines per total population) is now over 20%, compared to less than 2% when we began operation there in 1991. Cellular operations in Bermuda also prospered, with our share of BDC's net income up 55% from the first quarter of 2002, up 200% or three times the first quarter of 2001, and now contributing almost 20% of ATN's net income." Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. is a telecommunications company See telecom company. with headquarters in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Its principal subsidiary, Guyana Telephone and Telegraph telegraph, term originally applied to any device or system for distant communication by means of visible or audible signals, now commonly restricted to electrically operated devices. Attempts at long-distance communication date back thousands of years (see signaling). Company, Limited, is 80% owned by ATN and is the national telephone service provider in the Cooperative Republic of Guyana for all local, long-distance and international service. ATN owns 100% of Choice Communications, LLC (Logical Link Control) See "LANs" under data link protocol. LLC - Logical Link Control , the largest internet service provider Internet service provider (ISP) Company that provides Internet connections and services to individuals and organizations. For a monthly fee, ISPs provide computer users with a connection to their site (see data transmission), as well as a log-in name and password. in the United States Virgin Islands and the only wireless TV provider in the USVI USVI United States Virgin Islands USVI US Vision, Inc. (stock symbol) USVI United States Vegetation Index , as well as 100% of Atlantic Tele-Center, Inc., a Web-enabled outsourcing (1) Contracting with outside consultants, software houses or service bureaus to perform systems analysis, programming and datacenter operations. Contrast with insourcing. See netsourcing, ASP, SSP and facilities management. call center in Guyana. ATN also holds a 44% investment in Bermuda Digital Communications Transmitting text, voice and video in binary form. See communications. Ltd., the non-wireline cellular operator in Bermuda using the name "Cellular One". This release contains forward-looking statements forward-looking statement A projected financial statement based on management expectations. A forward-looking statement involves risks with regard to the accuracy of assumptions underlying the projections. within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Actual results could differ materially from these statements as a result of many factors, including matters discussed in the Company's Form 10K annual report for the year ended December 31, 2002, which is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Financial tables follow
Schedule A
ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK, INC.
Statement of Operations Data
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2003 and 2002
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)
Three Months Ended
March 31,
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2003 2002
--------- ---------
Telephone operations:
Revenues:
Local exchange service revenues $8,041 $6,158
International long-distance revenues 9,211 8,518
Other revenues 863 636
--------- ---------
Total revenues from telephone operations 18,115 15,312
--------- ---------
Expenses:
International long-distance expenses 1,840 2,668
Telephone operating expenses 7,510 6,368
General and administrative expenses 1,663 1,143
--------- ---------
Total telephone operating expenses 11,013 10,179
--------- ---------
Income from telephone operations 7,102 5,133
--------- ---------
Other operations:
Revenues of other operations 1,262 1,085
Expenses of other operations 2,108 1,906
--------- ---------
Loss from other operations (846) (821)
--------- ---------
Other income (expense):
Interest expense (99) (155)
Interest income 138 301
Equity in earnings of Bermuda Digital
Communications, Ltd 542 350
Other income (expense): 182 179
--------- ---------
Other income (expense), net: 763 675
--------- ---------
Income before income taxes and minority interest 7,019 4,987
Income taxes 3,542 2,547
--------- ---------
Income before minority interest 3,477 2,440
Minority interest (665) (423)
--------- ---------
Net income $2,812 $2,017
========= =========
Net income per share:
Basic $0.56 $0.40
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Diluted $0.56 $0.40
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Weighted average common stock outstanding:
Basic 4,988 4,992
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Diluted 5,049 5,069
========= =========
Schedule B
ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK, INC.
Selected Operations Statistics
For the Quarters Ended December 31, 2002 and March 31, 2002 and 2003
(In Thousands, Except Access Line Data)
Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Co., Ltd.
As of As of As of
03/31/03 12/31/02 03/31/02
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Access lines (fixed) 87,057 86,245 81,386
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Cellular subscribers lines 92,756 79,915 51,244
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International Long-Distance Traffic:
For the Three
Months Ended
-------------------
03/31/03 03/31/02
--------- ---------
International Minutes of Traffic:
Inbound 28,164 20,322
Outbound 5,602 4,484
--------- ---------
Total International
Minutes 33,766 24,806
International Minutes of Traffic
Mix:
Inbound 83.4% 81.9%
Outbound 16.6% 18.1%
--------- ---------
Total 100.0% 100.0%
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