Brazil Mobile Phone Ownership Up To 102.13 Million In March - Anatel

SAO PAULO -(Dow Jones)- The number of cellphones in circulation in Brazil rose to 102.13 million by the end of March from 101.18 million in February, according to preliminary figures released Tuesday by telecommunications regulator Anatel.

Brazilian mobile phone ownership was up 14.2% from March 2006. Net additions continued to slide from higher levels in 2004 and 2005.

"Annual wireless subscriber growth in Brazil remains in mid-teens. In our view, this will be the growth rate level throughout 2007. We found in our recent trip to Brazil that the telecom companies are focused on improving ARPUs (Average Revenue Per User) and margins, instead of growing the subscriber base at a fast pace," Morgan Stanley wrote in a research report.

The main local mobile operators are Vivo (VIV), 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 Rogerio Jelmayer, Dow Jones Newswires; 55-11-3145 1480; rogerio.jelmayer@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires "

Posted to the site on 17th April 2007