Brazil Mobile Subscribers Increases in May; Leading Companies Gain Ground

  By Rogerio Jelmayer 
 

SAO PAULO--Brazil's mobile-phone subscriptions rose at a higher pace in May compared with the prior month, while market leaders Telefonica Brasil SA (VIVT4.BR, VIV), also known as Vivo, and TIM Participacoes gained ground, according to telecommunications regulator Anatel.

Total mobile-phone users in Brazil increased to 275.45 million in May, up 0.68% from April, Anatel said. A total of 1.85 million new subscribers were signed, up from just 15,490 in the previous month.

Vivo, which is controlled by Spain's Telefonica SA (TEF.MC, TEF), gained market share in the period. Vivo's market share ended May at 28.75%, up from 28.71% in the previous month. In May, Vivo reached its highest market share of this year.

TIM Participacoes, which is the second-largest company in terms of clients, also saw an increase of its market share of 27.03% from 27%. TIM is the local unit of Telecom Italia SpA (TIT.MI, TI, TIA).

On the other hand, Claro, the local unit of Mexico's America Movil SAB (AMOV, AMX.MX, AMX), lost ground, ending May with a market share of 24.96%, compared with 25.03% in April.

Local company Oi SA (OIBR4.BR, OIBR) remained fourth with 18.46%, down from 18.52%.

Write to Rogerio Jelmayer at [e-mail]

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