Brazilian Mobile Subscribers Up in March; Vivo and Tim Gain Share

By Rogerio Jelmayer

SAO PAULO--Brazil's mobile-phone subscriptions increased in March at a higher pace compared with the previous month, while market leaders Telefonica Brasil SA (VIVT4.BR, VIV), also known as Vivo, and TIM Participacoes SA (TIMP3.BR, TSU) gained market share in the period, telecommunications regulator Anatel said late Wednesday.

Total mobile-phone users in Brazil increased to 273.58 million in March, with 860,210 new subscribers in the period, versus 370,020 new subscribers registered in February.

Vivo, which is controlled by Spain's Telefonica SA (TEF.MC, TEF), gained market share in the period. Vivo's market share ended March at 28.68%, up slightly from 28.62% in the previous month.

TIM Participacoes, which is the second-largest company in terms of clients, also saw its market share rise to 27.02% from 27%. TIM is the local unit of Telecom Italia SpA (TIT.MI, TI, TIA).

Meanwhile, Claro, the local unit of Mexico's America Movil SAB (AMOV, AMX.MX, AMX), lost ground, ending March with a market share of 25.13%, compared with 25.28% in February.

Local company Oi SA (OIBR4.BR, OIBR) remained fourth with 18.49%, up from 18.47%.

Write to Rogerio Jelmayer at [e-mail]

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