(Telecompaper) Vodacom Group said its subscriber base rose by 13.8 percent to 57.5 million in the year to 31 March, up by some 7 million new customers in the year. Annual revenue rose 8.3 percent to ZAR 75.71 billion, driven by increased volumes from handset financing deals in South Africa, which resulted in equipment revenue growth of 28.6 percent. Service revenue increased 4.7 percent to ZAR 62.05 billion. Group EBITDA increased by 8.2 percent to ZAR 27.31 billion, with a margin of 36.1 percent. Headline earnings per share were ZAR 8.96, up 2.8 percent. The results were effected by a non-cash charge of ZAR 310 million resulting from the modification of the terms of its black economic empowerment scheme. EPS increased by 1.8 percent to ZAR 9.03, after a profit in the previous year on the disposal of Gateway Carrier Services of ZAR 224 million.