TELEPHONY provider O2’s parent group today revealed improved interim and annual figures.

Spanish-based Telefónica reported results for the six months to December 31 which showed an increase in revenues from approximately £25.14bn to £27.3bn and pre-tax profits for the six month period of £7.43bn compared with £4.58bn.

During the 12 month period covering January to December 2010, the group achieved revenues of £52.35bn, up from £48.9bn in 2009, while pre-tax profits for the year came in at £11.98bn compared with £8.95bn previous.

Telefónica operates three divisions in Spain, Latin America and Europe, where it employs about 1,700 staff at its Preston Brook centre, near Runcorn.

Group-wide, employment numbers rose from 255,151 in 2009 to 269,047 last year.

In June last year the group sold Manx Telecom for about £141.3m, achieving a gain of around £52.5m.

By the end of 2010 the group said it provided access to a range of services, from telephones to internet and pay TV, for 287.6m customers, an 8.7% improvement on 2009 figures.

Europe showed the biggest increase in access, at 14.3%, to 56.3m customers.