UPDATE 1-Nigeria's Starcomms says 9-mo profit quadruples

(Adds comment from CEO, forex loss in third quarter)

LAGOS, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Nigerian telecoms firm Starcomms (STCP.LG: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Wednesday its core earnings (EBITDA) had more than quadrupled to 6.74 billion naira ($45 million) in the nine months to the end of September.

Nigeria's biggest fixed wireless operator said a 60 percent increase in its subscriber base -- which pushed revenues up five percent to 25.62 billion naira in the period -- and cost cutting had contributed to the rise in profits.

"Given the challenging economic climate, rising fuel prices and the fierce level of competition initiated by other CDMA operators, I am pleased with the company's performance," Chief Executive Maher Qubain said in a statement.

But Starcomms said unrealised foreign exchange losses due to a depreciation in the value of the local naira currency NGN= had contributed to a 1.1 billion naira pre-tax loss in the third quarter.

It said it had converted $60 million of its dollar-denominated debt into a medium-term naira facility which would reduce its exposure to exchange rate fluctuations. (For more Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: af.reuters.com/ ) (Reporting by Chijioke Ohuocha; Editing by Nick Tattersall)