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Mobile phone giant Vodafone has lifted its performance forecasts for the full-year after reporting solid first-half results.

In a statement today the company confirmed that its group revenues increased by nine per cent to £17 billion in the six months to September 30th.

The company's pre-tax profits also rose to £4.56 billion, compared with a £3.33 billion loss reported for the first-half of last year.

Following the improved performance, Vodafone has confirmed that it has increased its outlook for revenue, adjusted operating profit and cash flow for the 2008 financial year.

In Europe, where Vodafone has focused on reducing costs and boosting revenues from core voice and messaging services, revenues grew by two per cent over the first-half.

The company, which now has a mobile customer base of 241 million, performed particularly well within the EMAPA (Eastern Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and Affiliates) region.

Vodafone said revenue growth across the region of 39.9 per cent reflected acquisitions in India and Turkey.

The mobile phone operator, which said that its "ultra low cost handset" was helping it to reach a wider population in developing countries, stressed that its Indian business was delivering "very strong growth".

Vodafone, which acquired a stake in India's third-largest mobile phone operator – Hutchison Essar – in May, said its net average customer additions in the country were running at 1.6 million a month.

The company now expects its adjusted operating profit for the full year to be higher at £9.9 billion, up from the £9.5 billion previously forecast. Full-year group revenue is also expected to be higher than originally anticipated and within the range of £34.5 billion to £35.1 billion.

Meanwhile Vodafone is increasing its dividend payment by six per cent to 2.49p.

Commenting on the group's performance, Vodafone chief executive Arun Sarin said: "These results reflect our continuing focus on the execution of our strategy.

"The increased interim dividend reflects the board's confidence in how the business is progressing."