WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 2014
SAO PAULO–Brazil’s mobile-phone subscriptions in April rose at a slower pace compared with the prior month, while market leader Telefonica Brasil SA (VIVT4.BR, VIV), also known as Vivo, gained ground, telecommunications regulator Anatel said late Tuesday.
Total mobile-phone users in Brazil increased to 273.6 million in April, up just 0.01% from March, Anatel said. A total of just 15,490 new subscribers were signed, down from 860,210 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 April at 28.71%, up slightly from 28.68% in the previous month.
TIM Participacoes, which is the second-largest company in terms of clients, saw a decline of its market share at 27% from 27.02%. TIM is the local unit of Telecom Italia SpA (TIT.MI, TI, TIA).
Meanwhile, Claro, the local unit of Mexico’s America Movil SAB (AMOV, AMX.MX, AMX), also lost ground, ending April with a market share of 25.03%, compared with 25.13% in March.
Local company Oi SA (OIBR4.BR, OIBR) remained fourth with 18.52%, up from 18.49%.