Brazilian telecom regulator Anatel last Thursday approved Telefonica of Spain’s request to transfer its fixed telephony operating licences, excepting those for Sao Paulo, to its mobile arm Vivo Participacoes. Going forward Telecomunicacoes de Sao Paulo (including Telesp) will continue to provide telephony services in cities in Sao Paulo state, while Vivo will be free to offer fixed telephony subscriptions in all other parts of the country.
In a related development, as a result of a pre-agreed restructuring plan for its Brazilian operations – approved by Anatel on 15 June – Telefonica last Thursday informed the market that shares of Vivo Participacoes have now been fully incorporated. Under the plan, Vivo Participacoes’ is now the only company publicly traded on the Brazilian stock exchange, it said.