Revenue growth of 4% and margin growth of 6% during the 3rd quarter of 2013, saw Sure in the Channel Islands and Isle of Man contribute strongly to Batelco Group's growth in overseas revenue and exceed its target of deriving 50% of the Group’s business from overseas.

Batelco Group now receives 53% of revenues and 52% of EBITDA from operations outside of Bahrain.

Growth in the Channel Islands and Isle of Man has been underpinned by strong growth in revenues from Enterprise Sales and Professional Services bringing reinvigorated insight and focus to the business markets.

Steady growth was also experienced in consumer mobile and broadband businesses supported by IPTV services, in itself showing a 30% rise in customer connections quarter-on-quarter, product bundling and the benefit attained from the dedicated Customer Experience Division.

Extensive planning and preparations are also underway to launch a 4G/LTE network in 2014 to deliver improved cost efficiencies, operating performance and the introduction of a new range of services across the region.

Batelco Chairman, Shaikh Hamad Bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, announced the results following a meeting of the Board of Directors at Batelco Group Headquarters in Bahrain and referred directly to the performance of the Islands.

"The first nine months of the year continued to be marked by consistently strong cash generation and growing customer numbers across the Group thanks largely to the addition of the Island Portfolio businesses, included for the first time in Batelco Group’s half year 2013 figures," he said.

“This business crucial transaction has enabled us to strengthen our financial performance to emerge as a more profitable and cash generative communications Group. Diversification has been a key strategy for Batelco Group for some years already and we are delighted that the fruits of our M&A investments are beginning to make a significant positive impact on the bottom line. When we embarked on our overseas expansion strategy in order to offset the decline of our business in the home market, our target was to see half of our revenues coming from our overseas

investments. We have not only attained that goal but exceeded it with over half our revenues and profits now generated from outside our home market,” Shaikh Hamad said.

“With the ongoing integration of our new overseas businesses, we expect to benefit from a greater contribution from them as we go forward. This, in combination with the progress we are making in improving our competitiveness across all existing operations, will enable us to deliver on our commitment to our shareholders, which remains a key priority, by delivering stronger results,” he added.

Graham Hughes, CEO of Sure Jersey, is pleased to see Sure’s performance making an immediate impact.

“Sure’s acquisition by Batelco Group has been a very positive experience for the business in Jersey and I’m extremely pleased to see that our continued growth is having a positive impact for Batelco Group.

“We are looking forward to an even better performance in 2014, particularly as we invest further in the Island and, as Shaikh Hamad says, launch a 4G/LTE mobile network, which will delight our customers as it brings mobile broadband to a whole new level.”