www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Brazilian fixed line and mobile businesses has been planned to be merged by Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim in a bid to cut costs. Under the plan, the fixed telephony division Embratel will be amalgamated with mobile arm Telecom Americas (Claro) with the local unit of America Movil – possibly within the next few months. Jose Formoso Martinez, the current CEO at Embratel, could be appointed the head of the enlarged entity. Claro’s chief executive Joao Cox is also in the race. The financial results of the Brazilian operations has become a matter of concern for Carlos Slim and he views the structural merger as core to the group’s ability to stave off competition from the likes of Paris-based media and telecoms conglomerate Vivendi, Telefonica of Spain and Portugal Telecom.