Imports of mobile phones into Peru in the first nine months of this year rose by 24% compared to the previous year – reaching US$544 million.

Citing statistics from Peru’s Foreign Trade (Comex), Peru 21 wrote that the strongest surge in imports was from America Movil which saw its imports nearly double to $196 million.

Telefónica Peru’s imports were  $169 million (9% increase), Brightstar Peru $41 million (10%), Celistics Peru, with $35 million (down -22%), and Nextel del Peru, with $33 million ( down -48%).

A study by the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC), the number of mobile operating by the end of 2010 exceeded 29 million, representing a growth of 15% over the previous year.

Similarly, figures from the National Survey of Households (Enaho) in September 2011, revealed that 76% of Peruvian families have a cell phone.