Telcos invest more than US$ 9 bi in 2008
Valor Econômico - 03/28/2008
The four telephone operators that, so far, have released their plans for 2008 announced the intention of investing R$ 16.3 billion (US$ 9.26 billion), according to a survey made by Valor. The amount to be spent by the Oi (former Telemar), TIM, Claro and Vivo companies already exceeds, by far, the investments made by six of the largest telephone companies last year. In 2007, Oi, Brasil Telecom (BrT), Telesp (Telefónica's fixed landlines operator), TIM, Vivo and Embratel together invested a total of R$ 10.8 billion (US$ 6.14 billion). The most increased budget for 2008, up until now, is Vivo's. In a stockholders' meeting held yesterday, the operator approved almost R$ 6.1 billion (US$ 3.47 billion). The largest outlays in the sector may make 2008 be the fiscal year with the heaviest investments since the years that followed the privatization, when the fixed landline operators had to meet the goals of universalization of the services. This year's increase is justified by a series of factors. The main factor is the arrival of the third generation of the mobile telephony (3G). The operators had to set money aside to pay for the licenses to use the new technology, acquired in an auction carried out by the National Agency of Telecommunications (Anatel). Besides, they will have to spend more than they did in the last years to set up the 3G networks and meet the coverage goals established by the regulating agency of the sector. Other reason is the preparation for the so-called portability, a mechanism that will allow the clients to keep their telephone number when they change operators. The measure, which starts being implemented in the second half of the year, requires investments in software, telephone centrals and in the area of customer services.