Cellular/PCS Subscribers Grow 47 Percent in LatAm

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (04/25/2000) - The number of subscribers to cellular services and PCS (personal communications services) rose 47 percent in 1999 to 40.5 million in Latin America, compared with 1998, according to a new report from the Strategis Group Inc. in Washington, D.C.

The subscriber growth hiked the cellular/PCS penetration in the region to 7.82 percent.

The growth was fueled in large part by pre-paid plans. Pre-paid subscribers are expected to make up about 63 percent of all subscribers in 2007 in Latin America. The Strategis Group is predicting there will be a total of 139 million subscribers by 2007 in the region.

The market research firm plans to disclose more details about the study in a conference call on Thursday.

Last year, the firm reported that cellular and PCS subscribers grew 66 percent from 1995 to 1998, faster than any other region in the world. [See "Lat Am Cellular/PCS Growth Outpaces U.S., Europe" May 21, 1999.]The Strategis Group, in Washington, D.C., can be reached at 1-202-530-7500 or at http://www.strategisgroup.com/.