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Claro has reached an agreement to buy 73.01% of Desktop, strengthen fixed internet in São Paulo and expand fiber optics against Vivo, in a transaction of R$ 2.4 billion targeting 1.2 million customers and still dependent on CADE to advance in the Brazilian telecommunications market in 2026 with regulatory approval.
Claro has reached an agreement to buy 73.01% of Desktop, a Brazilian telecommunications company with a strong presence in fixed internet in the state of São Paulo. The transaction, announced in May 2026, was made through Claro Brasil, a subsidiary of América Móvil.
According to ND Mais, the deal aims at expanding the operator’s presence in the fiber optics market, especially in the interior of São Paulo, where Desktop has a significant presence. The operation involves R$ 2.4 billion, includes a base of about 1.2 million customers, and still needs to be approved by CADE.
Purchase of Desktop strengthens Claro’s presence in São Paulo
Desktop is valued at about R$ 4 billion and has become a strategic target due to its role in the São Paulo fixed internet market. With the acquisition, Claro expands its reach in a historically contested and important region for the telecommunications sector.
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The interior of São Paulo is a sensitive point in this dispute. The purchase allows Claro to grow precisely in areas where Vivo’s presence is traditionally strong, making the operation more than just a simple portfolio expansion.
Billion-dollar transaction involves 73.01% of the Brazilian company
The agreement provides for the purchase of 73.01% of Desktop. The offer was negotiated at R$ 20.82 per share, a value that represented a premium over the previous closing of the company’s shares, according to the disclosed information.
The final operation amounted to R$ 2.4 billion because Desktop’s debt, estimated at R$ 1.58 billion, was considered in the composition of the offer. This shows that the announced value reflects not only the size of the company but also its financial structure.
Base of 1.2 million customers changes the scale of the dispute
With the integration of Desktop’s 1.2 million customers, Claro gains density in fixed internet and expands its ability to compete in fiber optics. In telecommunications, the customer base is a central asset because it supports recurring revenue and territorial presence.
This reinforcement can accelerate the competition for broadband packages, bundled services, and residential loyalty. For the consumer, the impact will depend on how the integration is carried out, whether there will be commercial changes, and if the competition will result in better offers.
Vivo remains a direct rival in the fiber market
Vivo appears as Claro’s main rival in this dispute. Telefônica Brasil, owner of the Vivo brand, had already shown interest in Desktop before changing its strategic priorities, according to the cited source.
Telefônica’s shift in focus, aimed at reducing debt and investing in Europe, opened the way for América Móvil to advance. In practice, Claro took advantage of a strategic window to buy a company that could also strengthen the competitor.
CADE’s approval will be a decisive step for the business
The operation still depends on the approval of CADE, the body responsible for assessing competitive impacts in Brazil. This type of analysis is common in acquisitions involving large companies and highly concentrated markets.
The central point will be to verify if the purchase reduces competition or if it just repositions forces in the sector. Since Desktop has significant operations in São Paulo, the evaluation may consider local effects, network overlap, and impact on consumers.
Fiber optic market remains in strong dispute
Fiber optics has become one of the most important areas of telecommunications in Brazil. The demand for fast internet has grown with remote work, streaming, online gaming, cloud services, and greater digitalization of homes.
In this scenario, operators seek to gain scale by buying already consolidated regional networks. Buying a company with customers, infrastructure, and local presence can be faster than building an operation from scratch.
América Móvil increases its weight in Brazil with the operation
América Móvil, the Mexican group that controls Claro, strengthens its position in the Brazilian market with this agreement. The purchase of Desktop expands the strategy to compete not only in mobile telephony but also in fixed broadband and residential services.
The move also shows how Brazil remains relevant for large international telecommunications groups. Even with high competition, the country has scale, growing demand for the internet, and opportunities in regions where local providers have gained strength.
São Paulo’s interior becomes a key piece of expansion
Desktop has an important presence in the interior of São Paulo, an area that can be decisive for Claro’s growth. Outside the capital, regional providers and medium-sized companies have gained space by offering fiber in smaller and medium-sized cities.
By purchasing an already established operation, Claro can advance more quickly on this map. The challenge will be to integrate network, service, brand, and commercial plans without losing competitiveness against local providers and Vivo itself.
Purchase may reshape competition in fixed internet
If approved, the acquisition of Desktop could change the competitive balance in São Paulo. Claro gains base, infrastructure, and regional presence, while Vivo faces a stronger rival in areas where it maintained a historical advantage.
Now the question arises: can Claro’s purchase of Desktop improve competition in fixed internet or further concentrate the market in the hands of large operators? Do you think acquisitions of this magnitude bring better services to the consumer or reduce options in the long term? Share your opinion.
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