Brazil's auction of next-generation wireless spectrum was most notable for what was missing: one of the country's four big carriers and, with it, the heated competition that officials hoped for. The auction on Tuesday was a glimpse into the future of one of the world's most hotly contested communications markets as a sharp slowdown in growth and the rising cost of new technology has spurred a wave of takeover talk.At the crest is Grupo Oi SA, the carrier absent from the auction. With its soaring debt load and fading fourth-place market share, Oi was already front-and-center in merger speculation.And by passing up a chance at the latest fourth-generation (4G) cell spectrum, Oi gave tacit confirmation its future hinges on a big takeover, either as hunter or hunted.In the auction, rivals Telefonica Brasil SA, TIM Participa��es SA and America Movil SAB de CV bid a total of 5.8 billion reais ($2.4 billion), well below the more than 8 billion reais that officials hoped to raise.
America Movil SAB de CV is a Mexico-based company, which is primarily engaged in the provision of wireless communications services in Latin America. Shares of AMX fell by 1.55% or $-0.39/share to $24.81. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $19.02 and as high as $26.95. On average, 5699040 shares of AMX exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 2098503.
Oi SA, formerly Brasil Telecom SA, is a Brazil-based holding company engaged in the provision of Switched Fixed-line Telephony Services (STFC) domestically and internationally. Shares of OIBR fell by 1.93% or $-0.0135/share to $0.69. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $0.51 and as high as $2.14. On average, 16392300 shares of OIBR exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 3223951.
Shares of OIBR-C fell by 5.15% or $-0.0381/share to $0.70. On average, 0 shares of OIBR-C exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 602810.
Telefonica Brasil SA, formerly Telecomunicacoes de Sao Paulo SA - Telesp, is a Brazil-based company engaged in the telecommunications sector. Shares of VIV fell by 2.15% or $-0.42/share to $19.16. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $17.78 and as high as $23.04. On average, 1765420 shares of VIV exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 767410.
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