Brazil Mobile Phone Ownership Grows 1% In October

SAO PAULO -(Dow Jones)- The number of cellphones in circulation in Brazil rose 1% to 96.64 million in October from 95.87 million in September, according to preliminary figures released Friday by telecommunications regulator Anatel.

Brazilian mobile phone ownership rose 19% when compared with October of 2005, when the number of mobile phones was 81.24 million.

The net additions continue to slide from higher levels seen in 2004 and 2005.

The main local cellphone operators are Vivo, which is a joint venture formed by Spain's Telefonica Moviles and Portugal Telecom; TIM Participacoes, the local unit of Telecom Italia; and Claro, the local unit of Mexico's America Movil.

-By Alastair Stewart, Dow Jones Newswires; 55-11-3145 1479; alastair.stewart@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires"

Posted to the site on 17th November 2006