Consolidated EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) for the quarter totaled $8.8 billion, up 19.2 percent year over year.
Cash flow from operating activities totaled $21.5 billion in the first nine months of 2011, and capital expenditures totaled $12.5 billion -- on track to meet the company's full-year guidance of $16.5 billion.
In third-quarter 2011, Verizon Wireless -- the joint venture with Vodafone -- again delivered strong growth in revenues, retail customers and other connections, driven by increased smartphone penetration and increased retail postpaid ARPU (average monthly service revenue per user).
Wireless service revenues in third-quarter 2011 totaled $15 billion, up 6.1 percent year over year. Data revenues were $6.1 billion, up more than $1 billion or 20.5 percent year over year, and represent 40.6 percent of all service revenues. Total wireless revenues were $17.7 billion, up 9.1 percent year over year.
Retail postpaid ARPU grew 2.4 percent over third-quarter 2010, to $54.89. Retail postpaid data ARPU increased to $22.22, up 15.7 percent year over year. Retail service ARPU also grew 2.4 percent, to $53.21.
Verizon Wireless added 1.3 million total connections in third-quarter 2011, including 882,000 retail postpaid customers, and 367,000 wholesale and other connections. These additions exclude acquisitions and adjustments.
At the end of the third quarter, the company had 107.7 million total connections, an increase of 6.5 percent year over year, consisting of 90.7 million retail customers and 17.0 million wholesale and other connections.
Retail postpaid churn was 0.94 percent in third-quarter 2011, an improvement of 13 basis points year over year. Total retail churn was 1.26 percent, an improvement of 17 basis points year over year.
Verizon Wireless continued to roll out its LTE mobile broadband network, the largest 4G LTE network in the United States, during the quarter. As of yesterday (Oct. 20), Verizon Wireless LTE service was available in 165 markets covering a population of more than 186 million, across the country. With additional markets planned before year-end, the company's LTE network build-out is ahead of schedule and has already exceeded the company's 2011 target of covering a population of 185 million.
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