By Rogerio Jelmayer
SAO PAULO--The volume of active mobile phones dropped in Brazil
in September compared with the previous month while market leader
Telefonica Brasil SA (VIV, VIVT4.BR), also known as Vivo, lost
market share during the period, telecommunications regulator Anatel
said late Wednesday.
The total number of mobile phone users in Brazil declined to
268.27 million in September from 268.44 million in August, Anatel
said. In the period, a total of 173,600 mobile phones were
deactivated.
Vivo, which is controlled by Spain's Telefonica SA (TEF,
TEF.MC), lost market share in the period. Vivo's market share ended
September at 28.56%, down from 28.71% in the previous month.
TIM Participacoes, the second-largest company in terms of
clients, kept its market share at 27.17%. TIM is the local unit of
Telecom Italia SpA (TI, TIT.MI).
In the meantime, Claro, the local unit of Mexico's America Movil
SAB (AMX, AMX.MX), was the only one to gain ground during the
period. It ended September with a share of 25.14% compared with 25%
in August.
Local company Oi SA (OIBR4.BR) remained fourth with 18.64%.
Write to Rogerio Jelmayer at rogerio.jelmayer@dowjones.com
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