Brazil is showing an appetite for mobile internet, as internet traffic from non-PC devices, such as tablets, mobile phones and gaming consoles, has grown rapidly in recent months. Although non-PC device traffic accounted for just one per cent of total internet page views in August, this marks an increase of more than 60 per cent since May, according to comScore.
Brazil has seen its number of broadband subscribers increase 150-fold over the past ten years to reach 15.5 million accesses by the end of 2010, with 19.2 per cent growth last year alone, according to the annual report from the country’s National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel).
Nextel Brazil, a subsidiary of NII holdings, has won 20MHz licences in the 1.9 – 2.1GHz band in an auction conducted by Brazilian regulator Anatel. Nextel was successful in its bids for 11 of the 13 lots on offer, which will give it coverage of 182.4 million people, or 97 per cent of the population.
Spanish and Latin American carrier Telefonica’s acquisition of Vivo will have a significant impact on the Brazilian market, most notably giving the company the platform it needs to launch convergent services.
Spanish carrier Telefónica said Wednesday that it has finally reached an agreement with Portugal Telecom over the acquisition of Brazilian operator Vivo.
Spanish incumbent operator Telefónica is still chasing its Brazilian dream after the European Court of Justice ruled that the Portuguese Government’s use of a so called ‘golden share’ to block Telefónica’s acquisition of Vivo was unlawful.
Spanish and Latin American carrier Telefónica has seen its designs on Brazil trashed after the Portuguese government blocked the acquisition of Portugal Telecom’s stake in Vivo.
The tussle for control of leading Brazilian mobile player Vivo between Portugal Telecom and Spain’s Telefónica reflects the huge importance of the market to both European players.
Portugal Telecom has denied that Telefonica is able to block dividends from the two operators’ Brazilian joint venture Vivo as analysts warn that the Portugese incumbent cannot afford to lose its presence in the high growth Brazilian market.
Spanish incumbent and Latin American regional player Telefonica has increased its offer to buy the 50 per cent of Brazilian firm Brasilcel that is owned by its co-investor Portugal Telecom to €6.5bn.