KUALA LUMPUR (May 25): Axiata Group Bhd reported that first quarter net profit fell 37% to RM368.26 million from RM584.84 million a year earlier on lower profit from its Malaysia and Bangladesh mobile telecommunication network operations.

Axiata's Malaysia and Bangladesh operations are undertaken via Celcom Axiata Bhd and Robi Axiata Ltd respectively.

In a statement to Bursa Malaysia today, Axiata said higher operating cost also curbed group profit growth during the first quarter ended March 31, 2016 (1QFY16). Revenue, however, rose to RM5.01 billion from RM4.75 billion.

"Group revenue increased by 5.4% to RM5,008.8 million in the current quarter from RM4,750.7 million recorded in the first quarter of 2015 due to higher revenues in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Cambodia and weaker Malaysian ringgit.

"Operating costs of the group (Axiata) increased by 4.1% to RM3,133.5 million from RM3,009.5 million in 1QFY15, which is broadly in line with increase in revenue," Axiata said.

In Malaysia, Axiata said profit after tax (PAT) fell 22% on higher share of associate losses as depreciation and amortisation rose.

In Bangladesh, PAT decreased 50.8% on higher depreciation and amortisation from "data driven capital expenditure investments and accelerated depreciation from asset swap", according to Axiata.

At Bursa Malaysia today, Axiata shares gained one sen or 0.2% at 12:30pm to settle at RM5.40, giving the company a market capitalisation of RM47.65 billion.

Axiata saw 837,800 shares traded.