(Telecompaper) The 3 Group reported first-half revenues down 2 percent year-on-year to HKD 30.573 billion, hurt by negative currency effects. EBITDA still rose 20 percent to HKD 7.778 billion, and EBIT more than doubled, to HKD 4.924 billion from HKD 2.282 billion a year earlier. The mobile operator finished the period with 25.542 million active customers, up 2 percent compared to the end of 2014. Its net active ARPU, which excludes device payments, increased over the same period by 3 percent to EUR 17.69. 3's parent CK Hutchison said the company benefited from the acquisition of O2 Ireland and improved service margins in the UK. Excluding currency effects, service revenue rose 15 percent year-on-year and EBITDA was up 40 percent. The EBITDA margin improved to 32 percent from 26 percent in the year-earlier period. Capital expenditure, excluding licences, increased slightly to HKD 5.056 billion, while operating cash flow jumped 67 percent to HKD 2.722 billion.