By Rogerio Jelmayer
SAO PAULO--Brazil's March mobile-phone subscriptions rose at a
higher pace on-month, while Telefonica Brasil SA (VIVT4.BR, VIV),
also known as Vivo, lost ground in the period, telecommunications
regulator Anatel said late Wednesday.
Total mobile-phone users in Brazil increased to 264 million, up
0.38% from February, Anatel said. A total of 1.01 million new
subscribers were signed, up from 785,750 in the previous month. In
February subscribers increased 0.3% from January.
Vivo, which is controlled by Spain's Telefonica SA (TEF,
TEF.MC), had a reduction of market share to 28.78% from 28.83%.
On the other hand, TIM Participacoes SA (TSU, TIMP3.BR), which
is the second-largest company in terms of clients, saw its market
share increase to 26.98% from 26.88%. TIM is the local unit of
Telecom Italia SpA (TI, TIT.MI).
Claro, the local unit of Mexico's America Movil SAB (AMX,
AMX.MX), lost ground, ending March with a share of 25.11%, compared
with 25.12% in February.
Local company Oi SA (OIBR, OIBR4.BR) remained fourth with
18.74%, down from 18.83%.
Write to Rogerio Jelmayer at rogerio.jelmayer@dowjones.com
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