Orascom Telecom 2004 first half net profit soars

Egypt's regional mobile telephone service operator Orascom Telecom posted a 743 percent rise in 2004 net profits on Sunday.
The firm announced in a statement sent to Reuters that net profit increased to 1.155 billion Egyptian pounds ($185.5 million) from 137.1 million pounds in 2003.
Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose to 2.949 billion from 1.165 billion in 2003, the firm said.
One analyst contacted by Reuters forecast a net profit figure of around 1 billion pounds and an EBITDA figure of 2.3 billion.