Telecoms operator Vodafone increased its total subscriber base in the quarter to June 30th, and data usage continued to drive growth.

The rise brings the number of Vodafone Ireland customers to 2.44 million, with 2.2 million mobile customers. Some 752,000 were contract customers, a rise of 3.7 per cent.

According to the network, the number of customers using smartphones has increased by 56 per cent year-on-year, reaching 823,000. More than half of its customers use mobile internet, up 14 per cent year-on-year as customers log on with tablets, smartphones and notebooks.

The Irish subsidiary’s fixed-line voice and broadband customer base was 9.3 per cent higher year-on-year, reaching 241,000 at the end of June.

Vodafone Ireland said average blended monthly ARPU rose by 1 per cent compared with the previous quarter, to €31.50.

On a group basis, Vodafone said service revenue trailed analysts’ estimates as customers in Spain and Italy cut spending.

Total sales fell 7.7 per cent to £10.77 billion (€13.84 billion), missing the £10.91 billion estimate. – (Additional reporting: Bloomberg)