By Rogerio Jelmayer
SAO PAULO--Brazil's mobile-phone subscriptions in April posted
their lowest monthly expansion, as the country's sluggish economy
hurt sales performance.
A total of just 118,000 new subscribers signed up in April, down
from 840,000 the month before. Total mobile-phone users in Brazil
rose to 283.52 million, up just 0.04% from March, government agency
Anatel said.
In the 12-month period ended in April, the number of
subscriptions increased 3.5%.
The combination of weak economic activity, high inflation and
interest rates is discouraging buyers, also regarded as
small-ticket purchases, according to economists. After expanding
0.1% last year, Brazil's economy is expected to contract around
1.3% this year.
Telefonica Brasil SA, also known as Vivo, which is part of
Spain's Telefonica SA, and TIM Participacoes SA, a unit of Telecom
Italia SpA, remain market leaders.
Vivo posted a market share of 29% in April, up from 28.89% in
March, while TIM was second with 27% in April, up from 26.73%.
Claro, the local unit of Mexico's America Movil SAB de CV, ended
the month with a market share of 25%, down from 25.39%, while
Brazilian telecommunication company Oi SA lost ground, posted a
market share of 18% in April, from 17.78% in March.
The sector's smallest player, Nextel, ended April with a market
share of 1%, up from 0.64% in March.
Write to Rogerio Jelmayer at rogerio.jelmayer@wsj.com
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