CenturyLink 2005 Annual Report Download - page 25

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23
CENTURYTEL 2005 ANNUAL REPORT
■Grew the number of customers using our premier Simple Choice™ bundle by
22.1 percent over 2004.
■Increased the number of DSL connections by 106,100, reaching 15.1 percent
penetration of DSL-enabled lines.
■Added more than 100,000 long distance lines, reaching 52.5 percent
penetration of total access lines.
■Expanded our markets for satellite television and wireless services.
■Acquired 16 metro fiber markets, expanding our fiber network by more than
1,000 route miles and 100 points of presence.
■Grew LightCore revenues by 23.4 percent to $65.5 million, driven primarily by
growth in wholesale customer revenues.
■Grew operating revenues to $2.479 billion in a very challenging competitive and
regulatory environment.
■Repurchased 3.5 million shares of common stock for $114 million and, in total,
returned more than $145 million to our shareholders through dividends and
share repurchases.
■Invested $438 million to repurchase 12.9 million shares of common stock to
mitigate the dilutive effect of our Equity Unit settlement.
■Repaid nearly $350 million in debt.
■Launched a brand initiative committed to delivering a personal touch in every
interaction with every customer, from sales and installation to service and billing.
■Supported the communities where we live and work through ongoing corporate
giving and employee volunteerism.
■Positioned the Company for future growth by continuing to aggressively deploy
broadband service – by the end of 2005, approximately 75 percent of access
lines were DSL-enabled.
ur management team is committed
to delivering the best possible
experience to every CenturyTel
customer while generating positive financial
results for our shareholders. Highlights of our
performance in 2005 include:
Leading the Experience
We believe we have
the network, the
employees, the
opportunities and the
commitment to grow
our business in the
years ahead.
O