MONTABAUR (dpa-AFX) - Internet group United Internet recorded a significant increase in new customers in the first half of the year. The number of fee-based customer contracts rose by 490,000 to just under 28 million, the 1&1 parent company announced in Montabaur on Thursday. The telecommunications subsidiary 1&1 was able to win over 180,000 customers - significantly more than in the same period last year. It now has almost 16 million customer contracts. The web hosting subsidiary Ionos also gained new contracts.

At Group level, United Internet's sales climbed by 4.4 percent to around 3 billion euros in the first half of the year. Of this, 670 million euros remained as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (Ebitda) adjusted for special items - 1.9 percent more than in the same period last year.

Telecommunications subsidiary 1&1 increased its revenue by 2.1 percent to just under two billion euros between January and June, while adjusted operating income grew by 2.2 percent to just under 393 million euros.

The Management Board confirmed the full-year targets for United Internet and 1&1 to date./ngu/mis