7 Jan 04
 

Telefonica Moviles' active managed customer base has surpassed the 50 million mark. The company is now the fifth-largest wireless operator in the world by managed customers and has consolidated its position as leader in the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking mobile telephony market.

Telefonica Moviles says that it has doubled the number of its active managed customers in the past three years: from 21.8 million customers at the end of 2000, to 29.8 million at the end of 2001 and 41.4 million at the end of 2002.

So far in the fourth quarter of 2003, Telefonica Moviles has captured over 2.2 million active clients in its countries of operation, all before the end of the Christmas campaign.

Telefonica Moviles' place as one of the five largest mobile operators in the world is the result of its leadership in key markets such as Spain and Brazil, as well as its privileged position to capture the growth in the markets where it is present, which will have an estimated 55 million new clients during the years 2003 to 2006.

These figures put Telefonica Moviles on track to meet its target of close to 70 million active managed clients by the end of 2006, which would mean an increase of 40% in its client base in three years.

Telefonica Moviles is the market leader in Spain, with an estimated market share of over 53% and a share of outgoing traffic which is five percentage points higher. In Brazil, Telefonica Moviles' subsidiary now has over 20 million customers (with a 57% market share in the areas where the company is present).

Telefonica Moviles is the second-largest operator in the Mexican market, with over three million active managed clients. The company is currently rolling out its GSM network, which will provide coverage for over 80 cities by the end of 2003 and another 150 cities by year-end 2004. In Argentina, Telefonica Moviles accounted for over 50% of all net adds in the last quarter. The group is also rolling out its GSM network in the country's largest cities.

In Peru, the company has consolidated its leadership position, with a market share of over 52.5%. In Chile, the company managed by Telefonica Moviles is market leader in new adds, with over 40% in the last quarter. Having rolled out its GSM/GPRS service at national level, the group is the first operator in Latin America to launch high-speed broadband mobile services using EDGE technology.

In Morocco, Telefonica Moviles' subsidiary has surpassed 2 million active customers in its three years of operations, giving it a market share of 43%. The company recorded positive operating cash flow (EBITDA-capex) in 3Q03.