Hellas Online '08 EBITDA loss narrows, clients up

ATHENS, March 30 (Reuters) - Greek internet provider Hellas Online (HOL) (UNBr.AT) said on Monday its EBITDA loss narrowed last year after the number of clients doubled.

HOL, the country's third-largest alternative telecom provider, reported a loss in earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of 2.45 million euros ($3.24 million), down from a 15.9 million euro loss in 2007.

The company did not announce net profit figures. Broadband customers almost doubled to 151,136 compared with about 85,000 a year ago. This helped revenues rise by 99 percent to 107.5 million euros from 34 million euros in 2007.

HOL has spent 201 million euros since 2006 to expand its fibre-optic cable network to gain more customers. The company is 84-percent owned by telecommunications equipment provider Intracom (INRr.AT).

(Reporting by Harry Papachristou; Editing by David Cowell)