Mobile Broadband to Surpass Fixed Broadband in Brazil by 2011, finds Pyramid Research

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts -

Mobile broadband will surpass fixed broadband in Brazil by 2011, reaching nearly 27 million data card users in 2014 from 1.5 million in 2008, according to a new report from Pyramid Research (www.pyr.com), the telecom research arm of the Light Reading Communications Network (www.lightreading.com).

Brazil’s Brave New Mobile Broadband World: The Rise of Data Cards examines the potential of mobile broadband computing devices to reach significant adoption levels in Brazil and mobile broadband’s prospect of surpassing fixed broadband in the near future. The 12-page report provides Pyramid Research’s five-year forecast on data cards adoption in Brazil and discusses the strategies of the main mobile players, including two case studies: Claro and Oi. The report discusses the latent demand for broadband in Brazil and points to it as one of the key drivers for our positive mobile broadband estimates. Download an excerpt of this report here: www.pyramidresearch.com/downloads.htm?id=5&sc=PR072809_INLA1.6

Data cards are set to become an important driver of broadband adoption in Brazil. Operators should be prepared for strong, sustained growth going forward as mobile broadband becomes a true alternative to fixed broadband in Brazil, notes Fernando Faria, analyst at Pyramid Research and author of the report. “According to Anatel, the number of mobile data devices in May 2009 was nearly 4.3 million, which represents roughly 30 percent of the total broadband market, already a clear indicator that there is significant pent-up demand still in the marketplace,” he says. “Pyramid expects mobile broadband to surpass fixed broadband in Brazil by 2011 and to reach nearly 27 million data card users in 2014, from 1.5 million in 2008, a 62 percent CAGR,” he adds.

The value proposition for mobile broadband is unquestionable: Data cards offer an easy way to connect in a variety of locations with competitive speeds. “Besides this, there are a few other aspects people are starting to pay attention to in Brazil, such as shorter installation time fewer hurdles with LAN compatibility and absence of wires and cabling, to name a few,” says Faria. Although mobile broadband is considered to be more expensive than fixed broadband, as data cards reach significantly higher adoption levels, it becomes financially viable for mobile operators to drop prices.

“Despite this immense potential, Pyramid is observing an early issue with an unexpectedly high churn rate in mobile broadband service, which we credit to the ‘frustration effect,’ ” explains Faria. “Provided operators keep improving network quality to address a few early coverage issues, data cards could become the dominant broadband access device in Brazil,” he says.

Brazil’s Brave New Mobile Broadband World: The Rise of Data Cards is part of Pyramid Research’s Latin America Telecom Insider report series. This report is priced at US$595 and can be purchased online here: www.pyramidresearch.com/store/ins_la_090724.htm?sc=PR072809_INLA1.6 or by contacting Amalia Vega via email at avega@pyr.com.

For more information about Pyramid Research’s products and services, please visit www.pyr.com or contact us at info@pyr.com.

About Pyramid Research

Pyramid Research (www.pyr.com) offers practical solutions to the complex demands our clients face in the telecommunications, media and technology industries. Our analysis is uniquely positioned at the intersection of emerging markets, emerging technologies and emerging business models, powered by the bottom-up methodology of our market forecasts for over 100 countries-a distinction that has remained unmatched for more than 25 years. As the telecom research arm of the Light Reading Communications Network, Pyramid Research works with Heavy Reading, providing the communications industry’s most comprehensive market data, trusted research and insightful technology analysis.

About Light Reading

Founded in 2000, Light Reading (www.lightreading.com) is the leading online media, research, and focused event company serving the US$3 trillion worldwide communications market. Lightreading.com is the ultimate source for technology and financial analysis of the communications industry, leading the media sector in terms of traffic, content, and reputation. Light Reading’s research arms, Heavy Reading and Pyramid Research, provide the most comprehensive communications research, market data, and technology analysis in close to 100 markets around the world. Light Reading produces nearly 20 targeted communications events including TelcoTV, Ethernet Expo New York and Ethernet Expo London, The Tower Summit @ CTIA, and Optical Expo, as well as focused one-day events tailored for cable, mobile, and wireline executives. Light Reading was acquired by United Business Media in August 2005 and operates as a unit of TechWeb.

About TechWeb

TechWeb (techweb.com/aboutus), the global leader in business technology media, is an innovative business focused on serving the needs of technology decision-makers and marketers worldwide. TechWeb produces the most respected and consumed media brands in the business technology market. Today, more than 13.3 million* business technology professionals actively engage in our communities created around our global face-to-face events, Interop, Web 2.0, Black Hat, and VoiceCon; online resources such as the TechWeb Network, Light Reading, Intelligent Enterprise, InformationWeek.com, bMighty.com, and The Financial Technology Network; and the market leading, award-winning InformationWeek, TechNet Magazine, MSDN Magazine, and Wall Street & Technology magazines. TechWeb also provides end-to-end services including next-generation performance marketing, integrated media, research, and analyst services. TechWeb is a division of United Business Media, a global provider of news distribution and specialist information services with a market capitalization of more than US$2.5 billion.

*13.3 million business decision-makers: based on number of monthly connections

About United Business Media Limited

UBM (UBM.L) focuses on two principal activities: worldwide information distribution, targeting and monitoring; and, the development and monetization of B2B communities and markets. UBM’s businesses inform markets and serve professional commercial communities — from doctors to game developers, from journalists to jewelry traders, from farmers to pharmacists — with integrated events, online, print and business information products. Our 6,500 staff in more than 30 countries are organized into specialist teams that serve these communities, bringing buyers and sellers together, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently. For more information, go to www.unitedbusinessmedia.com.

Press contact: Jennifer Baker +1-617-871-1910 jbaker@pyr.com

Source: Pyramid Research

Jennifer Baker, +1-617-871-1910, jbaker at pyr.com