France Telecom (NYSE: FTE), Orange UK’s parent company posted earnings today, and reported that annual revenues at the Personal Communications Services UK unit, which operates under the Orange brand, were down 8.5 percent to €5.689 billion (£5.07 billion). Excluding the negative impact of exchange rates, revenues were up 6.3 percent.

Like France Telecom’s other mobile units, Orange UK was saved by the dongle and texting. Data services saw a 14 percent rise in annual revenues, driven by text messaging and data services. Orange UK saw an 86 percent surge in mobile broadband customers, climbing to 3.3 million. Data services generated a 23.3 percent share of network revenues in 2008, compared with 21.4 percent in 2007.

Revenues in the fourth quarter at PCS UK were down 15.3 percent to €1.357 billion (£1.21 billion). Again, unfavorable exchange rates took their toll, wiping away €246 million (£219 million). Stripping out the negative exchange rate impact, revenues were stable year on year. The fourth quarter saw Orange UK add 180,000 new customers, and a 9 percent growth in data services revenues. Voice revenues meanwhile, remained stable.