1Q wireless subscriber growth just 1.2%

The number of active mobile users in Colombia rose just 1.2% to 28 million in the three months ending March 2007, writes BNamericas citing the country’s industry and trade regulator SIC. Comcel, the local arm of América Móvil, leads the market with 18.3 million subscribers, a 2.55% increase compared to the end of 2006. Colombia Móvil, which operates under the Tigo brand name, claimed 2.24 million subscribers, up 4.33%, while Movistar Colombia lost 214,466 subscribers over the first quarter to end the period with 7.55 million, down 2.77%. According to the statement, the regulator now counts active subscribers as those that have made outgoing calls during the three month period, and no longer includes passive pre-paid mobile accounts that just receive calls.