Australia's Telstra posts 22.4 pct increase in profit

Australia's national telecommunications carrier Telstra has delivered another record half-year profit, the company announced on Thursday.

In the six months to December 31, Telstra posted a net profit of 2.085 billion Australian dollars (1.6 billion U.S. dollars), a 22.4 percent increase posted in the previous corresponding period.

The company said it will pay an interim dividend of 15 Australian cents.

Telstra chief executive David Thodey announced that the company will reintroduce the group's dividend reinvestment plan (DRP).

"We have listened to our many shareholders who told us they would like to see the DRP return," he said in a statement.

"The reactivation of the DRP will provide our shareholders with an easy and cost effective way to increase their shareholding."