Softbank's net loss in the six months to September narrowed to 6.05 billion yen (57 million dollars) from 77.34 billion yen a year earlier, with the recurring loss halved to 25.91 billion yen.

Revenue rose 34.7 percent to 303.71 billion yen.

"Looking at the latest results, we have gained further confidence in our business model in the broadband business," Softbank president Masayoshi Son told a news conference.

"As hard evidence, we have logged our first-ever operating profit of 800 million yen in September," he said.

Softbank is known for its aggressive campaign to liberalize the telecom sector, including a price war to challenge the dominance of the NTT group, a former government monopoly.

Softbank bought a Japanese fixed-line company, Japan Telecom, from British telecoms group Cable and Wireless this year for 143 billion yen, aiming to become a comprehensive communications firm.

Income from the broadband and infrastructure business rose 79 percent to 96 billion yen as the number of subscribers increased despite problems arising from a leak of confidential customer data earlier this year.

"As the customer base expanded, the ratio of customers using higher-speed services, wireless LAN and other value-added services increased," Softbank said in a statement.

However, it added that the segment still incurred an operating loss of 34.68 billion yen due mainly to the costs incurred to win over subscribers.

Softbank's broadband arm, Yahoo BB, is known for aggressive sales promotions, including free rental of asymmetric digital subscriber linemodems.

The group registered 46.31 billion yen in gains from selling shares held in an Internet brokerage house and other firms.

Softbank issued no full-year forecasts.

Son said his firm was in talks with US investment fund Colony Capital LLC to purchase the rights to Fukuoka Daiei Hawks' baseball games, including authorization to sell tickets and market-related merchandise.

Softbank has offered to buy the Daiei Hawks baseball team from ailing supermarket giant Daiei Inc., which is seeking a government-led bailout.

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