OKLAHOMA CITY, Feb. 20, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Dobson Communications Corporation (Nasdaq:DCEL) announced today in its fourth quarter conference call that it expects to achieve the following proportionate operating results in 2002:
-- Net subscriber additions of 130,000 to 140,000;
-- Average customer churn (postpaid) of between 2.0 percent and
2.25 percent;
-- Average revenue per unit (ARPU) of approximately $41 to $42;
-- Total revenue growth of between 7 percent and 9 percent, or a
range of $865 million to $881 million; and
-- EBITDA growth of between 8 percent and 10 percent, or a range of
$338 million to $344 million.
Proportionate results include Dobson's 50 percent ownership in American Cellular Corporation. EBITDA represents earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, loss from investment in joint venture and income (loss) from discontinued operations.
Finally, Dobson announced that it expects capital expenditures of approximately $85 million in Dobson Communications' operations in 2002 and approximately $55 million in American Cellular.
The Company's policy is to modify its guidance only by means of a press release, a Form 8-K filing or a publicly scheduled conference call. In the absence of a change to guidance announced in one of these forms, the public should assume that Dobson's guidance remains in effect as stated.
The replay of the conference call will be available for 30 days via the Internet through the Investor Relations page of Dobson's Web site at www.dobson.net and is available through March 5 by calling:
Replay # (888) 203-1112 Pass code 567966
Dobson Communications is a leading provider of wireless phone services to rural markets in the United States. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, the rapidly growing Company owns or manages wireless operations in 17 states. For additional information on the Company and its operations, please visit its Web site at www.dobson.net.
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company's plans, intentions and expectations. Such statements are inherently subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These risks include increased levels of competition, restrictions on the Company's ability to finance its growth, any market changes that would significantly decrease consumer demand for wireless products, and other factors. A more extensive discussion of the risk factors that could impact these areas and the Company's overall business and financial performance can be found in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Given these concerns, investors and analysts should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.