Brazil Jan Mobile Phone Ownership Up 1.5% to 122.8 Million Vs Dec

SAO PAULO -(Dow Jones)- The number of cellphones in circulation in Brazil totaled 122.8 million at the end of January, up 1.5% from December and 22% higher than the same month one year before, according to figures released late Friday by telecommunications regulator Anatel.

Net additions in the month were 1.88 million.

Brazil's leading cellphone operator Vivo Participacoes' share of the local cellphone market fell slightly in January. The company still maintained its lead with 27.44% of the market in January from 27.68% in December.

TIM Participacoes, Brazil's No. 2 operator, had its market share increase to 26.10% in January from 25.85% in the month before.

Market share for third-placed operator Claro fell slightly to 24.84% in January from 24.99% in December. Oi, or Tele Norte Leste Participacoes' market share rose slightly to 13.32% from 13.21% in December.

Vivo is jointly controlled by Spain's Telefonica and Portugal Telecom. Claro is owned by Mexico's America Movil, and TIM is controlled by Telecom Italia.

-By Rogerio Jelmayer, Dow Jones Newswires; 5511-3145-1480; rogerio.jelmayer@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

Posted to the site on 25th February 2008