Maroc Telecom first-quarter revenue up 2.4 pct

RABAT May 11 (Reuters) - Moroccan phone company Maroc Telecom (IAM.CS) reported a 2.4 percent increase in first-quarter revenue on Monday as growth in its customer base offset declining income per user.

Revenue was 7.13 billion dirhams ($865.8 million) while operating profit climbed 2.7 percent to 3.19 billion dirhams, the company said in a statement.

Maroc Telecom is controlled by Vivendi (VIV.PA), Europe's largest entertainment group, through a 54 percent holding.

It competes with Meditel, a joint venture of Spain's Telefonica TEF.CS and Portugal Telecom (PTC.LS), and Wana, owned by Moroccan national conglomerate ONA ONA.CS.

The company has fended off growing competition by boosting its client base using cut-price airtime deals.

Its mobile customer base grew 6.8 percent in the first quarter to 14.6 million, but average revenue per user slipped 6.4 percent. (Reporting by Tom Pfeiffer; Editing by Rupert Winchester)