SAO PAULO -(Dow Jones)- Brazil's mobile-phone subscriptions increased to 253 million in April, up 0.86% from March, according to figures released late Thursday by telecommunications regulator Anatel. New subscriptions in April totaled 2.2 million. Telefonica Brasil SA (VIV, VIVT4.BR), also known as Vivo, remained the market leader in April with a 29.75% share. Vivo is controlled by Spain's Telefonica SA (TEF, TEF.MC). TIM Participacoes SA (TSU, TIMP3.BR) was second with a 26.89% share of the market. TIM is the local unit of Telecom Italia SpA (TIT.MI). Claro, the local unit of Mexico's America Movil SA (AMX, AMOV, AMX.MX), ranked third with 24.48% of the market. In fourth place, mobile-phone operator Oi SA (OIBR, OIBRC, OIBR4.BR), captured 18.57% of the market. -By Rogerio Jelmayer, Dow Jones Newswires; 55-11-3544-7071; rogerio.jelmayer@dowjones.com
