(Telecompaper) Telecom Italia reported a 2.9 percent year-on-year decline in revenues to EUR 4.47 billion in the first quarter of 2019, hit by increased domestic competition and the decision to close low-zero margin wholesale contracts at its international services arm Sparkle. The company's EBITDA for the quarter likewise fell, by 2.1 percent year on year on organic terms, to EUR 1.79 billion. However, the company said EBITDA was essentially flat on comparable terms and a substantial improvement on the 9.9 percent slump posted in the final quarter of 2018 thanks in part to a 1.7 percent rise in revenues at its TIM Brasil unit, coupled with cost reduction and a 6.5 percent decline in capital expenditure due to increased efficiency.