(Telecompaper) Australian communications carrier Telstra has posted a half-year profit of AUD 1.7 billion, up by 9.7 percent year-on-year, and earnings per share rose 8.7 percent to AUD 0.137. Total income grew 4.1 percent to AUD 12.8 billion and EBITDA went up 7 percent to AUD 5.3 billion. Telstra confirmed it is on track to meet its full year guidance of low single digit income and EBITDA growth and announced an increased interim dividend of AUD 0.145 cents.