Oi (telecommunications)

Oi (IPA: [ˈoj], Portuguese for "Hi"), formerly known as Telemar, is the largest fixed telephone operator and the fourth mobile telephone operator in Brazil, being the third largest telecommunication company in Latin America. It is headquartered in Rio de Janeiro.

Oi S.A.
TypeSociedade Anônima
B3: OIBR3, OIBR4
IndustryTelecommunications
Founded1998 (1998)[1]
HeadquartersRio de Janeiro, Brazil
Key people
Rodrigo Abreu (CEO)
ProductsFixed line & mobile phone
internet services
Pay television
RevenueDecreaseR$9.28 billion (2020)
DecreaseR$−10.53 billion (2020)
Number of employees
18947
WebsiteOfficial Website (English)

In 2013, Oi announced its merger with Portugal Telecom, the largest telecommunication company in Portugal, in order to strengthen the Brazilian firm and simplify its ownership structure. In June 2015 Portugal Telecom was acquired by Altice Group.[2]

On June 20, 2016, Oi filed for a US$19 billion (R$65 billion) bankruptcy protection, the largest on record for Brazil.[3]

In March 2017, Oi had 63 million revenue generating units (UGRs), including 40 million for personal mobile service, 16.3 million for landline, 6.5 million for B2B (large corporations and microentrepreneurs). Nowadays, it has 2 million hotspots to Oi WIFI network around Brazil.[4][5]

In March 2019, Oi reported a fourth-quarter net loss of 3.359 billion reais ($858 million), widening 66 percent from its year-earlier loss. Total revenue fell 7.9 percent.[6]

On February 8, 2023, Oi once again filed for Chapter 15 bankruptcy in the United States.[7]

Corporate governance

Oi's chief executive officer (as of January 2018) is Eurico Teles, who also serves as the company's chief financial officer and director of investor relations.[8]

History
Telemar logo, 1999–2007

Oi (then known as Telemar) was formed as Tele Norte Leste to merge sixteen state-owned incumbent local exchange carriers, during the privatization of Brazilian telecommunications system. Each carrier served a particular Brazilian state in the northern, northeastern and southeastern part of the country. In the break-up of Telebras in 1998 it was sold to a consortium led by the Brazilian construction firm Andrade Gutierrez (21.2%) and Inepar Holdings (20%) as well as other Brazilian corporate and individual investors. The consortium paid 3.434 billion reais.

The states that formed the base of Telemar at its inception were Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Bahia, Sergipe, Alagoas, Pernambuco, Paraíba, Rio Grande do Norte, Piauí, Ceará, Maranhão, Pará, Amazonas, Amapá and Roraima, corresponding to 65% of the Brazilian territory and 20 million households.

Initially, Telemar was allowed to offer only local voice and data services and interstate long-distance voice services. Today, Telemar and its subsidiaries offer local, long-distance and international voice and data services, besides a growing mobile phone network.

In April 2006, it was announced that Telemar would restructure itself, merging its three holding companies into a single company, that would have been named either Telemar Participações S.A. or Oi Participações S.A. However, those plans failed, since there was no consensus between Telemar shareholders. But on March 1, 2007, Telemar rebranded itself to "Oi",[9] unifying all of its companies and services under the Oi umbrella. The company is still legally known as "Telemar Norte Leste S.A.", "Tele Norte Leste Participações S.A." and "Telemar Participações S.A.". Oi owns the brands:

  • Oi Fixo (landline service, formerly Telefone Telemar)
  • Oi Móvel (mobile service, cornerstone of the Oi brand)
  • Oi Velox (ADSL, 3G formerly Velox)
  • Oi Internet (ISP)
  • 31 (long-distance and international calling)
  • Oi Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi access, at home or via hotspots)
  • Oi TV (DTH pay TV)
  • Oi Voip (Voice over IP)

In 2010, Portugal Telecom acquired 22.4% of Oi shares.

In February 2014, Oi announced it would raise $5.9 billion in a share offering as part of the firm's merger process with Portugal Telecom.[10]

In October 2021, Oi delisted its ADRs from the New York Stock Exchange.[11]

Subsidiaries

Oi Móvel

Oi launched its mobile network in 2002 in its license states. It was the first network using GSM in Brazil. Oi has the practice of not calling its phones "cell phones", but rather "Ois". In 2007, Oi started selling only unlocked handsets, focusing on SIM card and plan sales. In October 2007, Oi acquired a license to operate with GSM in São Paulo, where the network went live on October 24, 2008. In December 2007, Oi purchased licenses to operate a 3G network in its area, including São Paulo, but with the exception of the Franca area. That network is expected to go live in 2009. Also in December 2007, Oi announced its purchase of Amazônia Celular, which was a condition of the sale of its sister company, Telemig Celular, to Vivo.

Oi Internet

Oi Internet is an ISP that was launched in 2004. Oi Internet started services with a promotion that offered 31% off the dial-up connection costs on the subscriber's bill. However, Anatel, the Brazilian telecom regulator, did not allow this practice. Later, the ISP relaunched the promotion, offering 31% of the dial-up connection costs deposited in the subscriber's bank account or twice of that on a prepaid Oi phone. The Oi Internet dial-up dialer can send SMS messages to Oi phones.

In early 2005, Oi Internet launched its broadband services, initially available only for Oi's Oi Velox DSL subscribers, but now also available for Brasil Telecom Turbo and Telefónica Speedy subscribers.

Brasil Telecom purchase

In 2008, Oi announced it would purchase Brasil Telecom, creating a major Brazilian telecommunications company, already nicknamed "Supertele" or "SuperOi". That takeover required changes in legislation, which at the time prohibited a fixed telephone company from purchasing another fixed telephone company in a different license area. That legislation has changed since, and Oi completed its purchase of Brasil Telecom on January 9, 2009. Rollout of the Oi brand in the Brasil Telecom area starts with prepaid mobile service on May 17, 2009.

Criticism

Oi has been criticized and fined by Anatel due to not being able to meet quality goals in their mobile phone service;[12] they have also been criticized for poor customer service.

Sponsorships

Slogans
  • 2002-2013: Simples assim. ("It's that simple.")
  • 2013–2015: A Oi completa você. ("Oi completes you.")
  • 2015-2016: Porque o seu mundo não para. ("Because your world doesn't stop.")
  • 2016–present: Junto é bem melhor ("Together, it's much better")

See also

References
  1. "Oi | History". Archived from the original on 2018-01-02. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
  2. "Altice finalises acquisition of Portugal Telecom". Agence France-Presse and Business Insider. June 2, 2015. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
  3. "Brazil's Telecom Oi files for record bankruptcy". Jelmayer, Rogerio. June 20, 2016. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  4. "Perfil Oi".
  5. "Oi | Histórico". www.oi.com.br. Archived from the original on 2019-06-16. Retrieved 2019-04-17.
  6. "UPDATE 1-Brazil telecoms firm Oi sees revenue growth from 2021". Reuters. 2019-03-27. Retrieved 2019-04-26.
  7. "Brazilian telecom operator Oi seeks Chapter 15 bankruptcy". Bloomberg Law. February 8, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  8. Lepido, Daniele (December 19, 2014). "Telecom Italia Said to Favor All-Stock Bid for Tim-Oi Merger". Bloomberg News.
  9. ""Telemar announces rebranding to Oi"".
  10. "Brazil telecom Oi files for $5.9 billion share offering". Reuters. 20 Feb 2014. Retrieved 21 Feb 2014.
  11. "Brazilian telecom company Oi to delist its ADRs". Nasdaq. 1 Oct 2021.
  12. "Anatel multa Oi em R$ 34 milhões por descumprir metas de qualidade". 15 February 2013.
  13. "Brazilian telecommunications company becomes first World Cup sponsor for Brazil 2014 - FIFA.com". November 11, 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-11-11.
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