Hutchison, which sells mobile phone subscriptions under the 3 brand, made a net loss for the six months to June 30 of $85.4 million, which was better than the loss of $197.3 million a year earlier.
It also made an earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) loss of $31.1 million, compared to $88 million previously.
The Sydney-based company forecast in February it would finish calendar 2008 EBIT positive on a monthly basis, and restated that guidance on Tuesday.
Revenue increased 23.7 per cent to $760.9 million as the company increased its subscriber numbers by 28.7 per cent to 1.81 million.
"We've continued to build scale with strong momentum in sales, in part, benefiting from the strong market shift to 3G (third generation services)," chief executive Nigel Dews said in a telephone conference.
Shares in Hutchison fell two cents, or 15 per cent, to close at 11 cents. The stock has declined 42 per cent this year.
Monthly average revenue per user (ARPU) fell 1.8 per cent to $67.92, as the company increased the quotas on its capped plans.
Non-voice ARPU, from downloads and internet use, increased 15.1 per cent to $19.67.
"A greater level of awareness of ways customers can use their mobile phones, our transparent pricing and a better customer experience are driving" the increasing data revenue," Dews said.
Hutchison, controlled by Hong Kong-conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa Ltd, was the first carrier in Australia to introduce 3G services with its 3 brand in April 2003, allowing customers to access non-voice services including photos, music downloads and internet access.
The company, which was floated in 1999, is in the process of upgrading its network to handle speeds of 7.2 megabits per second (Mbps) from the current 3.6 Mbps, work that will be mostly complete in the first half of 2009.
In June, Hutchison increased the included value on its capped mobile plans to lure more customers from Telstra Corp Ltd, Optus and Vodafone.
Hutchison includes more voice call value on its $69 plan than the company's rivals do on their $79 plans. Telstra offers $450 worth of calls and text on its $79 plan, while Optus and Vodafone each offer $550.
Hutchison also announced it has extended its roaming agreement with Telstra to include 3G.
The agreement will give 3 customers access to 3G services covering 96 per cent of the population, from the current 56 per cent. Hutchison will also build 50 of its own sites to extend coverage.
"We're very pleased to have a new 3G roaming deal in place, supplemented by our own build in the highest roaming areas," Dews said.
Roaming arrangements for 3G on parts of Telstra's 850MHz network will be in place during the second quarter of 2009.
