(In the 2nd paragraph, the forecast was specified in the 2nd sentence)

BÜDELSDORF (dpa-AFX) - Growth in the mobile communications and TV business has brought Freenet an increase in profits in 2023. The operating result (EBITDA) rose by 4.5 percent to 500.2 million euros and was thus in line with the company's target and analysts' estimates. As the MDax group also announced on Wednesday evening, turnover increased by 2.8 percent to around 2.63 billion euros. Consumer restraint, high energy prices and high financing costs had no significant impact on the course of business.

Turnover is expected to remain stable in the current year. At 495 to 515 million euros, operating profit should improve slightly in the best-case scenario despite investments in growth.

A dividend of EUR 1.77 per share is expected to be paid to shareholders in 2023, compared to EUR 1.68 a year earlier. The share price fell by around one percent after the Xetra close./jha/he