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Manitoba Telecom Services saw its profit increase by 58 per cent to $43.4-million in its first quarter, helped by its wireless and broadband services.

Earnings per share was 67 cents, compared with 42 cents during the same quarter in 2010. But operating revenue was down slightly from $439.3-million from $442-million.

"Our first quarter results across the company were strong and demonstrate that our strategy is working," said chief executive officer Pierre Blouin in a news release.

"We are focused on driving growth in wireless, IP television, broadband and IP-based services; increasing high-margin on-net sales at Allstream through the expansion of our fibre network and continuing our cost reductions."

Wireless revenue for MTS was up 9.7 per cent to $84-million and revenue for services such as Internet protocol television and Internet services were up 7.2 per cent to $47.7-million.

MTS said its had 483,722 wireless subscribers, up more than 5 per cent in the quarter. Average revenue per user was $57.73, up 3.6 per cent.

The Allstream business unit had total revenues of $204.7-million, down 4.5 per cent from the same quarter last year.

But revenue from Internet-protocol based services to businesses was up 7.9 per cent to $57.5-million due to winning service contracts with new clients.

"This solid increase in IP sales activity continued into 2011, supporting sales levels that are expected to result in double-digit revenue growth in 2011," the company said.

Long-distance and legacy data services dropped 10 per cent to $56.1-million in the quarter.

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