By Reuters

(Reuters) - Swedish telecom operator Telia reported first-quarter core ‌earnings above market expectations on ‌Friday, driven by service revenue growth across ​most markets and lower operational expenses.

• Telia's first-quarter adjusted operating profit before interest, taxes, depreciation, and ‌amortization (EBITDA) increased ⁠4.0%, on a like-for-like basis, to 7.94 billion Swedish ⁠crowns ($856.78 million).

• Analysts had expected an average profit of 7.84 billion ​crowns in ​a company-compiled ​poll.

• "Demand for Telia's ‌services is strong across our markets, with transformational technologies, such as AI, dependent on secure, reliable, and high-quality connectivity," CEO Patrik Hofbauer ‌said in a ​statement.

• Quarterly service ​revenue increased ​2.1%, like-for-like, driven by ‌continued strong development in ​Sweden and ​Lithuania.

• Telia shares are up about 3% in early Stockholm ​trading.

($1 = ‌9.2673 Swedish crowns)

(Reporting by Elviira ​Luoma, editing by Rashmi Aich ​and Jonathan Ananda)

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