Adjusted earnings, excluding one-off items, were C$0.74 a share, beating FactSet analysts’ average estimate of C$0.70. Revenue reached C$6.18 billion, above the forecast of C$6.12 billion. Net income was C$0.67 a share, compared with C$4.84 in the prior-year quarter.

BCE added 24,110 postpaid mobile subscribers, up from 12,599 a year earlier. The company attributed the increase to customers switching from prepaid service and new users joining under a large, long-term government-sector mobile services contract.

Gross subscriber activations, however, declined 6.1%. BCE cited a less active market, with fewer promotional offers, limited population growth and intensifying competition among Canadian carriers. Internet subscriber activations were 23,436, down from 24,431 a year earlier.

The company reiterated its full-year outlook: revenue growth of 1% to 5% and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization growth of 0% to 4%. It also maintained its expectation that adjusted earnings will decline by 5% to 11%.