22/04/2008

Led by Oi, Cellular growth in the 1Q08 exceeds projections.

 

Brazil finished the 1st quarter of 2008 with 125.8 million cell phones and density of 65.9 cell/100 inhab. The net adds of 4.8 million cell phones of the quarter are a new record for a 1st quarter of the year. They represent more than doubled from 2007 and are better than those obtained in any of the quarters of 2006.

 

 

In this scenario, in which the cumulative growth in the past 12 months reached 23.7 million cell phones, Teleco revised its projections for 2008 (more details) and will estimate that Brazil will end 2008 with 145 million cell phones and density of 75 cell/100 inhab.

 

Who will lead cellular growth in 2008?

 

Oi surprised Tim and Claro and lead cellular growth in the 1Q08 with net adds of 1,336 thousands cellulars (including Amazônia).

 

Note: Vivo includes Telemig and Oi includes Amazônia Celular.

 

Tim, 2nd place in the 1Q08, was leader in cellulars net adds in the 1Q07 being surpassed by Claro in the other quarters of 2007.

 

Vivo and Claro sped up in Mar/08 and had net adds of 432 thousands and 399 thousand cell phones respectively, surpassing Tim (205 thousand cellulars).

 

In the 1Q08, Oi, Tim and BrT won market share, while Vivo and Claro lost.

 

Thousands
 Market Share Cellulars Difference to the next
2007 1Q08 1Q08
Vivo*
30.90%
30.45%
38,309
5,761
Tim
 25.85% 25.87% 32,548 1,366
Claro
 24.99% 24.78% 31,182 12,445
Oi*
 14.38% 14.89% 18,737  
BrT
 3.52% 3.64% 4,578 -
CTBC/Serc
 0.36% 0.37% 469 -
Total
 100% 100% 125,811 -

*Vivo includes Telemig and Oi Amazônia Celular.

 

Vivo opened an advantage of more than 5 million cell phones comparing to the 2nd placed Tim. However, this advantage fell from 6,117 thousands in 4Q07 to 5,761 thousands in 1Q08.

 

The dispute for the 2nd place should remain heated throughout the year between Tim and Claro. 3G is one of the battle fronts of this dispute. Claro came out in front and Tim launched its service, even with the postponement of the release of the frequencies 1900/2100 MHz by Anatel, not to lose ground.

 

In Feb/08 Teleco made a quiz to know who, in the opinion of readers, would lead cellular growth in 2008. Tim was with 31% of the votes, against 28% of Claro, 23% of Oi/BrT and 15% of Vivo.

 

With the performance presented in 1Q08, the beginning of its operation in São Paulo and the purchase of BrT, Oi are eligible to dispute as equals the leadership in growth (net adds) of cellular in Brazil in 2008.

 

You could ask:

 

Commentaries

 

To send us a commentary, click on: teleco@teleco.com.br

 

Please let us know if you authorize the publication of your commentary.

 

 

Workshop
(in portuguese)		 Cellular Market Update

 

 

 

NEWSLETTER

Report

EVENTS

 

More events

TelecomWebinar (in portuguese)

More Webinars

NEWS (in portuguese)