* Q4 adj. EBITDA 4.03 bln eur vs 4.19 bln eur expected
* Q4 mobile service revenues down 2.8 pct
* Keeps outlook for 2013 adj. EBITDA of 18.4 bln euros
BARCELONA, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Deutsche Telekom's operating profit dropped 13 percent in the fourth quarter as thecompany faced head-winds in its German mobile market and therest of Europe.
Deutsche Telekom is facing upheaval in the once cosy andvery profitable German mobile phone market, where competitorsare adapting to the changing habits of German customers, who aredropping voice and text messaging in favour of data.
Fourth-quarter earnings before interest, tax, depreciationand amortisation (EBITDA), excluding special items, came in at4.03 billion euros ($5.3 billion), missing an average forecastof 4.19 billion euros in a Reuters poll.
Germany's second-largest mobile player after Vodafone Germany said it still expected EBITDA, excluding specialitems, to grow to around 18.4 billion euros in 2013.
This includes earnings streams from MetroPCS, whichDeutsche Telekom wants to buy and merge with its strugglingT-Mobile USA unit. Excluding MetroPCS 2013 earnings, adjustedEBITDA is expected to fall to 17.4 billion euros.
Fourth-quarter revenues dropped 1.4 percent to 14.7 billioneuros, which was slightly ahead of expectations. Mobile servicerevenues in Germany were down 2.8 percent, which was weaker thanthe in previous year.
The company in December cut its dividend for this year andnext by almost a third to 0.50 euros from the 0.70 euros pershare it will pay for 2012, as investments at home and in theUnited States, where it has been losing market share, eat awayat cash.