Telefonica aims to secure an additional 35 million customers in Latin America by 2009. Speaking to the Spanish press, José Maria Alvarez-Palete, the group’s director for the region, added that much of the increase – Telefonica already has over 150 million subscribers in Latin America – will be driven by organic growth, though acquisitions are also likely. Telefonica is currently involved in moves to gain total control the Brazilian mobile operator Vivo, which it jointly owns with Portugal Telecom. It also plans to account for 14% of Latin America’s broadband market by 2009.
