Mobile Penetration Expected to Grow 20-50% This Year

Mobile telephony penetration in Peru is almost universally expected to increase during 2006, but at widely diverging rates depending on the source of the figures.

At the low end, Nokia spokesperson Yolande Pineda predicted growth of around 20% this year, with the number of Peruvians owning cell phones expected to climb to 25% from 20%.

Much of this growth is expected to come from users who want tough, inexpensive and easy-to-use terminals, Agencia Peruana de Noticias quoted Pineda as saying.

The executive and student segments also are expected to contribute to the increased penetration.

However, in January of this year Nokia's Latin American communications director, Jorge Aguilera, forecast 50% mobile penetration growth in the country for 2006. This would mean mobile service reaching some 30% of Peruvians; Aguilar argued that this growth would come from "increased competition."

BNamericas.com"

Posted to the site on 20th April 2006