Elisa reports flat profit in line with expectations

HELSINKI Oct 19 (Reuters) - Finnish telecom operator Elisa reported third-quarter profit in line with market expectations and little changed from a year earlier, as mobile and data services sold steadily despite a weak economy.

Quarterly earnings before interest, tax, depreciations and amortisation (EBITDA) was 134 million euros ($175 million), roughly in line with an average forecast of 136 million euros in a Reuters analyst poll.

The company repeated its outlook for 2012 revenue and EBITDA to be flat and for operating profit to increase due to less depreciation. ($1 = 0.7638 euros) (Reporting by Helsinki Newsroom)