Portugal Telecom announces the launch of the new single nation-wide brand of its 50%-50% joint venture with Telefonica Moviles for mobile operations in Brazil: Vivo.
The launch of Vivo is a major step towards the consolidation of the largest mobile operator in South America. After the incorporation of Tele Centro Oeste ("TCO"), which is pending approvals from the regulator (Anatel) and from the competition authority, Vivo will increase its customer base up to 17 million, almost 3 times the number of customers of the second largest mobile operator in Brazil, and operating revenues to R$ 9 billion (2002 figures).
Vivo will be a single brand in 19 states and federal district covering 86% of the Brazilian area, approximately 7 million of kilometers, and 10% of the Brazilian population representing 80% of the Brazilian GDP. Vivo also has a share of 50% of the Brazilian mobile market.
The launch of Vivo represents simultaneously the confirmation of its CDMA technological option. CDMA is the technological basis for 3G services worldwide, allowing the best performance for mobile data communications and the offer of 3G products and services without the need of additional radio frequencies. Vivo already offers the 1XRTT CDMA system which enables data transmission up to 144 kbps per second speed.
