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* Q2 profit of 18.8 mln riyals vs loss in Q2 2015 - statement
* Booked 800 mln riyal provision in Q2 2015
* Revenues down 7.5 pct y-o-y on rate changes
(Adds detail, context)
By David French
DUBAI, July 26 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's Etihad Etisalat
Mobily, which had slashed 27 months of previously-reported earnings by nearly $1 billion, made a net profit of 18.8 million riyals in the three months to June 30. This compares with a loss of 901 million riyals in the prior-year period, according to a bourse statement.
Three analysts polled by Reuters had forecast Mobily, an affiliate of the United Arab Emirates' Etisalat
Its return to profit was attributed to Mobily not repeating an 800 million riyal provision which it made in the second quarter of 2015, relating to a dispute with rival telecom operator Zain Saudi
Reduced costs from a programme to cut expenses also helped offset higher financial charges, the statement said.
Quarterly revenue fell 7.5 percent to 3.29 billion riyals though, which the company blamed on lower interconnection revenues from mobile termination rate changes introduced in April.
The Gulf Cooperation Council countries cut telecom roaming charges for making and receiving calls and sending text messages within the six-nation bloc by an average of 40 percent from April 1.
Mobily, which competes with Saudi Telecom Co
In July 2015, Mobily made the last in a series of earnings restatements that in total cut 27 months of profits to March 31, 2015, by 3.63 billion riyals.
(Reporting by David French; Editing by Biju Dwarakanath) ((davidj.french@thomsonreuters.com; +971 4 362 5864; Reuters Messaging: davidj.french.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
* Booked 800 mln riyal provision in Q2 2015
* Revenues down 7.5 pct y-o-y on rate changes
(Adds detail, context)
By David French
DUBAI, July 26 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's Etihad Etisalat
Mobily, which had slashed 27 months of previously-reported earnings by nearly $1 billion, made a net profit of 18.8 million riyals in the three months to June 30. This compares with a loss of 901 million riyals in the prior-year period, according to a bourse statement.
Three analysts polled by Reuters had forecast Mobily, an affiliate of the United Arab Emirates' Etisalat
Its return to profit was attributed to Mobily not repeating an 800 million riyal provision which it made in the second quarter of 2015, relating to a dispute with rival telecom operator Zain Saudi
Reduced costs from a programme to cut expenses also helped offset higher financial charges, the statement said.
Quarterly revenue fell 7.5 percent to 3.29 billion riyals though, which the company blamed on lower interconnection revenues from mobile termination rate changes introduced in April.
The Gulf Cooperation Council countries cut telecom roaming charges for making and receiving calls and sending text messages within the six-nation bloc by an average of 40 percent from April 1.
Mobily, which competes with Saudi Telecom Co
In July 2015, Mobily made the last in a series of earnings restatements that in total cut 27 months of profits to March 31, 2015, by 3.63 billion riyals.
(Reporting by David French; Editing by Biju Dwarakanath) ((davidj.french@thomsonreuters.com; +971 4 362 5864; Reuters Messaging: davidj.french.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
