Federica Laricchia
Research expert covering the global consumer technology industry
Telecoms industry in Brazil – statistics & facts
In today’s world, where communication is essential – be it through mobile devices or fixed-line telephones – the telecommunications industry plays a key role. Revenue from telecommunications services in Brazil stood at almost 40 billion U.S. dollars in 2023. The market’s development has two sides: On the one hand, the number of fixed telephone lines in Brazil has been decreasing, amounting to around 25.5 million in 2023; on the other hand, the mobile telephony industry keeps increasing, and the number of mobile phone lines in Brazil totaled over 256 million in the same year.
All in all, telecommunications services, both fixed and mobile lines, are integral to everyday life in Brazil. The country’s telecoms industry is expected to grow in the near future, providing users with new and advanced technologies, such as 5G, that will help them stay connected in an increasingly digital world.
Internet services: an ongoing trend
Brazilians are still craving online connectivity, both at home and outside. Indeed, in recent years, the revenue of the fixed broadband market in Brazil has grown. Likewise, mobile internet is more relevant than ever as 99 percent of Brazilians use a mobile phone to access the internet. Given its importance, telecom providers offer competitive data plans. Three telecommunications operators dominate the Brazilian landscape: Telefónica, Claro, and TIM. At almost 40 percent, Telefónica had the largest share of the mobile telephony market in Brazil in 2023.The twilight of fixed telephony?
The fixed telephony industry saw a slow but steady decline throughout the 2010s. As of 2022, there were fewer than 13 million fixed telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants in Brazil, the lowest number since 2000. Similarly, the revenue of fixed telephony services in Brazil reached an all-time low in 2022, dropping to around 2.5 billion U.S. dollars. This downturn may reflect shifting consumer habits, as mobile telephony and voice over internet protocol (VoIP) grow in use and quality. However, internet user penetration rates in Brazil reveal that roughly 15 percent of the population remains offline in 2024, so time will tell if it is too soon to start discarding fixed telephony altogether.All in all, telecommunications services, both fixed and mobile lines, are integral to everyday life in Brazil. The country’s telecoms industry is expected to grow in the near future, providing users with new and advanced technologies, such as 5G, that will help them stay connected in an increasingly digital world.
