Brazil Mobile-Phone Subscriptions Decline in March

   By Rogerio Jelmayer 
 

SAO PAULO--Brazil's mobile-phone market saw a decline in subscriptions in March, as the country's deep economic recession damaged consumer confidence and affected the sale of new phones.

The number of active mobile-phone users in Brazil dropped by 252,121 in March to a monthly total of 257.81 million, compared with 258.06 million in February, government agency Anatel said.

The country's mobile-phone market was once a hot industry marked by double-digit expansion. A combination of poor economic activity and high inflation and interest rates, however, is discouraging buyers, according to economists. After contracting 3.8% last year, Brazil's economy is expected to shrink at a similar level this year.

Telefonica Brasil SA (VIVT4.BR), also known as Vivo, which is part of Spain's Telefonica SA (TEF.MC), and TIM Participacoes SA (TIMP3.BR), a unit of Telecom Italia SpA (TIT.MI), remained market leaders.

Vivo posted a market share of 28.42% in March, up from 28.39% in February, while TIM ranked second with 26.09%, the same level seen in the prior month.

Claro, the local unit of Mexico's America Movil SAB de CV (AMOV), ended March with a market share of 25.32%, down from 25.36%, while Brazilian telecommunication company Oi SA (OIBR4.BR) saw its market share stable at 18.52% in the period.

Write to Rogerio Jelmayer at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

May 02, 2016 07:24 ET (11:24 GMT)

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