Telecompaper

Latin American mobile communications provider Nextel added 266,000 net new subscribers to its network in the first quarter. Net subscriber additions for the quarter were below company expectations due to weakening economic conditions during the quarter, particularly in Mexico, which resulted in higher customer churn rates and lower gross subscriber additions than were previously anticipated. Based on these first-quarter subscriber results and its current assessment of subscriber growth trends in each of its markets completed on 5 April, the company is revising its outlook for net subscriber growth for the full year 2009 to a range of 1.1 million to 1.2 million, down from its previous estimate of 1.275 million to 1.35 million. At this time the company is not making any changes to its previously announced guidance for 2009 other than with respect to net subscriber additions. The company is evaluating whether the changed outlook for net subscriber additions or other developments in its markets will have an impact on its guidance for 2009 relating to revenues and profits, and will comment on any related changes to its guidance on the call with investors to be held in connection with the company's announcement of its full first-quarter results, which is expected to occur on 23 April.