HONG KONG, August 12 /PRNewswire/ --

Key Highlights:

    -- Group total mobile customers grew 36.5 % year-on-year to approximately 
       11.6 million 
    -- Substantial increase of customer base in Indonesia to 6.4 million 
    -- Very positive GSM launch in Vietnam with customer acquisitions of 
       624,000
    -- Operating profit at HK$499 million, including one-time gains of HK$236 
       million
    -- Spin-off of Hong Kong and Macau operations released value for 
       shareholders 



    Financial Results Highlights:

                                                    Six months ended 30 June
                                                              2008      2009 
                                                               HK$       HK$ 
                                                          millions  millions 
    Turnover                                                 7,991     6,411 
    Operating profit                                         1,859       499 
    Profit /(Loss) for the period from continuing                        
     operations                                              1,684      (221)
    Profit from discontinued operations                        279       196 
    Profit/ (Loss) for the period                            1,963       (25)
    Profit/ (Loss) attributable to equity holders of the     
     Company                                                 1,165      (285)
    Basic earnings/(loss) per share attributable to                      
     equity holders of the Company                         HK$0.24  HK$(0.06)



Hutchison Telecommunications International Limited ('Hutchison Telecom';
'the Group'; 'the Company'; SEHK:2332; NYSE: HTX) today announced the
financial results for the six months ended 30 June 2009 and quarterly key
performance indicators ('KPIs') for the second quarter of 2009. The Group
reported good progress in the emerging markets and continued to deliver sound
underlying performance both operationally and financially in a challenging
macro environment.

The Group's total customer base increased 36.5% to approximately 11.6
million on a like-for-like basis compared with last year, with the net gain
mostly contributed by the Indonesian operation. The Israeli operation
maintained its 3G customer growth momentum which drove the 3G customer base
to over 1.1 million. The Group's operation in Vietnam successfully launched
GSM service under the brand name Vietnamobile and started the second quarter
with very positive customer acquisitions of approximately 624,000. The
Group's strategy of accelerated network rollout produced results during the
period. The Indonesian operation launched service in Kalimantan and Sulawesi
and continued to deepen the network coverage in Java and Sumatra. The
Vietnamese operation increased the number of base stations on-air to
approximately 1,500 and is on track to take it to 3,000 by the end of the
year.

The Group successfully spun off its Hong Kong and Macau operations in May
2009 to release value for shareholders. The combined share price of the two
listed companies was over 50% higher than that of the share price of
Hutchison Telecom on the day of the spin-off announcement.

Financially, the Group's first half results were adversely impacted by
the depreciation of the New Israeli Shekel ('NIS') against the Hong Kong
Dollar ('HKD'). Turnover decreased 19.8% to HK$6,411 million compared to
HK$7,991 million in the same period last year. Excluding the impact of weaker
NIS, the decrease in underlying turnover was 8.2% reflecting primarily the
impact of the economic downturn. Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation
and Amortisation ('EBITDA') decreased 38.9% to HK$1,117 million compared to
HK$1,829 million in the same period last year. Excluding the foreign exchange
impact of NIS, EBITDA for the period decreased 20.4%. This was mainly due to
the ongoing network rollout in Indonesia that almost double the on-air base
stations compared to last June. The loss attributable to equity holders of
the Company for the period was HK$285 million.

Dennis Lui, Chief Executive Officer of Hutchison Telecom, said: "We are
pleased to see a sound half year with strong growth in customers and
accelerated network rollout in the Company's key operations of Indonesia and
Vietnam. In face of the challenging economic conditions in the markets during
the period, we continued to improve operational efficiencies and reduce
costs. The Group also successfully released value for shareholders with the
spin-off of its Hong Kong and Macau operations."

"We are optimistic that the momentum in Indonesia and Vietnam will carry
into the remainder of 2009 and the measures taken in Sri Lanka to strengthen
its competitive position will produce an improved performance in the second
half," said Mr Lui.

Review of Operations

Indonesia
    -- Customer base grew to 6.4 million, more than double on a yearly basis
    -- Turnover increased 48.7% to HK$223 million
    -- Accelerated network expansion with over 7,300 sites and services
       launched in Kalimantan and Sulawesi

    The Group's Indonesian operation PT. Hutchison CP Telecommunications
('HCPT') continued to expand its network footprint in the first half of 2009,
along with substantial growth in customers. Against fierce competition the
customer base grew 101% on a yearly basis to 6.4 million with a record 1.1
million net additions during the quarter. HCPT expanded its population
coverage to approximately 70%, covering Kalimantan and Sulawesi and with
services launched in new major cities. The operation is on track to increase
its network to 9,000 base stations on-air with a population coverage of over
75% by the end of 2009.

    HCPT's turnover for the first half of 2009 increased 48.7% to HK$223
million. However, as the network expanded so the network operating costs
became higher. Its Loss Before Interest, Taxation, Depreciation and
Amortisation ('LBITDA') for the first six months of 2009 increased to HK$764
million, compared to HK$348 million in the same period last year.

    HCPT reported stable KPIs compared with the previous quarter. Prepaid
Average Revenue Per User ('ARPU') increased modestly to IDR10,316 from
IDR9,963 in the previous quarter. During the first half year, as a result of
the reduction in promotional on-net minutes offered, blended Minutes of Use
('MOU') stood at 55 minutes, same as the previous quarter. Blended churn
remained high at 24.9%.