(Telecompaper) Orange reported strong customer additions in the first quarter, with revenue and EBITDA nearly stable, excluding the effect of regulatory measures. Revenue declined by 0.9 percent on a comparable basis to EUR 9.67 billion, reflecting an improving trend in Europe mainly related to mobile equipment and services, with continued steady growth in Africa and the Middle East. A focus on cost reduction has allowed Orange to halve the decline in stated EBITDA to EUR 55 million in the first quarter, compared to a EUR 120 million decline in the year-earlier period, on a comparable basis. The continuing fibre rollout saw Capex rise by 3 percent to EUR 1.19 billion, or 12.3 percent of revenue. Orange's revenue in Europe, including France, declined by 1.4 percent on a historical basis to EUR 9.67 billion in the first quarter. In Africa and the Middle East it rose by 10.8 percent to EUR 1.12 billion, but in Enterprise it declined by 1.3 percent to EUR 1.55 billion. Orange had 188.2 million mobile customers at the end of March, up 6.2 percent (11 mln net additions) on a comparable basis. The group had 100.6 million mobile customers in Africa and the Middle East, up 11.3 percent (10.2 mln). Orange Money customers shot up by 48 percent to 13.3 million. Orange group confirmed its target of EUR 11.9 to 12.1 billion restated EBITDA for this year, with net debt to EBITDA at around 2x. The board confirmed the divided of EUR 0.60 per share for 2015, with a EUR 0.20 interim dividend to be paid by the end of the year. The balance of the 2014 dividend, EUR 0.40 per share, will be paid on 10 June.