Latin America - Major Fixed-Line Operators

Synopsis

Latin America’s largest fixed line operator, in terms of lines in service, is Telmex, founded and controlled by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim. In terms of revenue, Brazil’s Telesp, owned by Telefónica, is in the lead. The second place, both in terms of fixed lines and revenue, is occupied by Brazilian Oi (Telemar). In 2008, Oi acquired a controlling stake in Brazil’s third regional incumbent, Brazil Telecom. The merger of Oi and Brazil Telecom was approved by the Brazilian government as a way of creating a strong national player able to compete with regional giants América Móvil and Telefónica. Meanwhile, Telecom Argentina has been under cross-shareholding scrutiny since rival operator Telefónica acquired a stake in its parent Telecom Italia. This report provides brief profiles of the region’s major fixed-line operators, accompanied by relevant statistics and analyses.