Strong results from France Telecom, owner of the mobile phone and internet companies Orange and Wanadoo, has given telecoms investors some unexpected cheer.

Profits at Orange - the leading mobile phone operator in France, and the UK's number two - rose 102% to 1.63bn euros ($1.48bn; �1.02bn), excluding the costs of interest payments, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda).

This was far above expectations of a 60% rise.

Cash flow was also much stronger than expected.

Error

France Telecom brought forward the publication of its first-half results after sending the figures, in error, to analysts.

On Wednesday evening, France Telecom asked analysts in an e-mail to ignore the "confidential information" that had been sent out in error.

But with shares in Orange climbing 8% during Thursday morning trade, France Telecom was forced to confirm the preliminary data.

France's leading telecoms operator has blamed a computer error in its press office for the leak.

Rising shares

The strong performance by Orange helped France Telecom to a 14% rise in first-half Ebitda to 6.07bn euros.

And the group's internet arm Wanadoo reported losses of 54m euros, 3m euros less than the previous year.

Full results will be released on 5 and 6 September as originally scheduled.

When the markets closed, shares in Orange were 19.5p or 4.28% higher at 475.55p on the London stock exchange, down from the day's high.

In Paris, France Telecom stock fell 5.5%.