Telus Corp (T.TO) reported a 16.7 per cent rise in quarterly profit on Thursday, as it attracted more postpaid wireless customers through promotions.

The company also slightly raised its revenue and earnings per share forecasts for the year.

Telus added 44,000 postpaid wireless subscribers in the first quarter ended March 31, up about 36,000 from a year earlier, helped mainly by targeted promotions, the company said.

Postpaid subscriptions, where customers pay a monthly bill for their wireless service, typically generate higher revenue.

In the same period, market leader Rogers Communications Inc (RCIb.TO) added a robust 60,000 net postpaid wireless subscribers and BCE Inc's (BCE.TO) Bell, Telus' network-sharing partner, signed on fewer than 36,000.

Vancouver-based Telus is spending billions of dollars to expand its wireless and broadband networks as it competes with Rogers and BCE for wireless customers across Canada, and with Shaw Communications Inc (SJRb.TO) for television, internet and phone customers in Western Canada.

Telus said wireless customers, on average, paid nearly 4 per cent more at $65.53 for its service in the first quarter.

The company said it now expects 2017 revenue of $13.18 billion-$13.31 billion, up from an earlier forecast of $13.12 billion-$13.25 billion.

Telus expects earnings per share for the year of $2.49-$2.66, compared to the prior forecast of $2.49-$2.64.

The company's net income rose to $441 million, or 73 Canadian cents per share in the first quarter, from $378 million, or 64 cents per share, a year earlier.

Operating revenue climbed 2.9 per cent to $3.20 billion.

Telus also boosted its quarterly dividend by 7.1 per cent to 49.25 cents per share.

BNN is a division of Bell Media, which is owned by BCE.