leasing revenue was $361.2 million in the first quarter of 2019 compared to $338.7 million in the year earlier period, an increase of 6.7%. International cash site leasing revenue was $88.3 million in the first quarter of 2019 compared to $86.4 million in the year earlier period, an increase of 2.2%, or 13.0% excluding the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates.
Site leasing operating profit was $359.5 million, an increase of 6.4% over the year earlier period. Site leasing contributed 97.3% of the Company’s total operating profit in the first quarter of 2019. Domestic site leasing segment operating profit was $297.7 million, an increase of 7.6% over the year earlier period. International site leasing segment operating profit was $61.7 million, an increase of 1.2% over the year earlier period.
Tower Cash Flow for the first quarter of 2019 of $362.9 million was comprised of Domestic Tower Cash Flow of $301.8 million and International Tower Cash Flow of $61.1 million. Domestic Tower Cash Flow for the quarter increased 7.8% over the prior year period and International Tower Cash Flow increased 3.4% over the prior year period. Tower Cash Flow Margin was 80.7% for the first quarter of 2019, as compared to 79.8% for the year earlier period.
During the first quarter of 2019, the Company received a partial recovery ofpre-petition obligations owed to the Company from Oi, S.A. (“Oi”) in accordance with the reorganization plan approved by the Brazilian courts. Net of costs incurred in connection with the Oi bankruptcy process, the Company recovered $2.3 million in the quarter (the “Oi recovery”). The Oi recovery resulted in a partial reversal of the Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts which was recorded as an offset to bad debt expense within Selling, general and administrative expenses. Any future recoveries will be recorded in a similar manner in the period in which payment is received.
Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $345.6 million, which includes the $2.3 million Oi recovery, an 8.4% increase over the prior year period. Adjusted EBITDA Margin was 70.4% in the first quarter of 2019 compared to 70.4% in the first quarter of 2018.
Net Cash Interest Expense was $96.9 million in the first quarter of 2019 compared to $87.6 million in the first quarter of 2018, an increase of 10.6%.
Net income for the first quarter of 2019 was $26.0 million, or $0.23 per share, and included a $2.1 million loss, net of taxes, on the currency related remeasurement of U.S. dollar denominated intercompany loans with a Brazilian subsidiary, while net income for the first quarter of 2018 was $31.5 million, or $0.27 per share, and included a $1.6 million gain on the currency related remeasurement of U.S. dollar denominated intercompany loans with a Brazilian subsidiary.
AFFO for the quarter was $236.1 million, which includes the $2.3 million Oi recovery, an 8.1% increase over the prior year period. AFFO per share for the first quarter of 2019 was $2.07, an 11.9% increase over the prior year period.
Investing Activities
During the first quarter of 2019, SBA purchased 54 communication sites for total cash consideration of $36.1 million. SBA also built 72 towers during the first quarter of 2019. As of March 31, 2019, SBA owned or operated 29,687 communication sites, 16,289 of which are located in the United States and its territories, and 13,398 of which are located internationally. In addition, the Company spent $15.4 million to purchase land and easements and to extend lease terms. Total cash capital expenditures for the first quarter of 2019 were $91.7 million, consisting of $7.2 million ofnon-discretionary cash capital expenditures (tower maintenance and general corporate) and $84.5 million of discretionary cash capital expenditures (new tower builds, tower augmentations, acquisitions, and purchasing land and easements).
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