Telus Corp. shares rose almost four per cent on Thursday after the telecommunications company posted higher sales and profits for its first quarter.

The Vancouver-based company said growth in its wireless network revenues and wireline data revenues outweighed declines in its wireline voice local and long distance business. Wireless revenues were up by 10 cent while wireline data grew by 19 per cent revenue.

Telus said its operating revenues rose 6.6 per cent to $2.35 billion from $2.21 billion.

Earnings for the quarter came in at $291 million, or 90 cents a share, up 49 per cent from $194.8 million, or 58 cents a share, a year earlier. Part of the boost came in the form of a one-time charge of $173.5 million in the first quarter of last year.

Darren Entwistle, Telus president and CEO, said the company is reaffirming the earnings guidance it offered in December, when it said it is targeting 2008 revenue growth of between six and seven per cent - an increase of roughly $550 million to $700 million - and aiming for earnings per share growth next year of seven to 16 per cent.

Following the earnings report, Telus shares rose $1.80 to end at $47.40 on the TSX.

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