The communications giant said it made 51 cents a share in the quarter, compared with the $470 million (51 cents a share) in the same quarter of last year, when it recorded a $7-million gain on the sale of the e-health operations of BCE Emergis.
Revenues for the quarter were $4.86 billion compared to $4.64 billion for the first quarter of last year. BCE's operating income for this quarter was $1.07 billion, up 5.4 per cent from last year's $1.01 billion first-quarter result.
The company said it added 37,000 net wireless subscribers during the quarter, compared with 92,000 in the first quarter of 2004. During the first quarter of this year, BCE cancelled 45,000 non-paying accounts.
The company also said it added 128,000 Sympatico high-speed internet customers during the quarter.
BCE said its results include $120 million in cost-savings from a restructuring project.
"We continue to deliver on our plan to redefine Bell Canada," said Michael Sabia, the company's CEO, in a release.
"Despite some temporary softness in our mobility unit during the first part of the quarter, the operational transformation of our business is very much on track."
BCE shares fell 4 cents to close at $29.98 on the TSX.
