The nation’s largest telecommunication’s provider has posted a 1.7 per cent growth in profits for the six months to December 2012.

Releasing its first half results, Telstra announced a net profit after tax increase of 8.8 per cent to 1.6 billion, with a 14 cent fully franked interim dividend.

“These results show we are delivering on our commitments. We continue to see customer growth in key products and services, particularly mobiles. This is testament to our focus on improving customer service and maintaining network leadership,” Telstra’s CEO David Thodey said.

Mr Thodey said that the company’s $1.6 billion capital expenditure over the six-month period had played a key role in expanding the company’s customer base, with 607,000 domestic and 321,000 international mobile customers added.

”Our investment in the mobile network is attracting more customers. We have now sold 1.5 million 4G devices and we are on track to expand 4G coverage to 66% of the Australian population by June 2013,” Mr Thodey said.

Mr Thodey said Telstra achieved a 10 per cent reduction in the number of TIO complaints from a year ago but acknowledged there was room for improvement in customer service.

“We are very committed to putting the customer at the centre of everything we do. We are continuing to make improvements, whether enhancing our digital and online service capability, refreshing mobile plans or cutting transaction times in our retail stores,” he said.