SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 20549

                                    FORM 6-K

                  REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO
                RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
                                   ACT OF 1934

                          FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY 2003

                         (Commission File No. 001-14489)

                  TELE CENTRO OESTE CELULAR PARTICIPACOES S.A.
                  --------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                   TELE CENTRO OESTE CELLULAR HOLDING COMPANY
                   ------------------------------------------
                  (Translation of registrant's name in English)

           SCS-QUADRA 2, BLOCO C, EDIFICIO ANEXO-TELEBRASILIA CELULAR
           ----------------------------------------------------------
                            -7 ANDAR, BRASILIA, D.F.
                            ------------------------
                          FEDERATIVE REPUBLIC OF BRAZIL
                          -----------------------------
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)


        (Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file
             annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.)

                          Form 20-F  X        Form 40-F
                                    ---                 ---

                (Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by
                furnishing the information contained in this form
                is also thereby furnishing the information to the
                 Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the
                        Securities Exchange Act of 1934.)

                                 Yes       No  X
                                     ---      ---

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                                                                  [LOGO OMITTED]

                   TELE CENTRO OESTE CELULAR PARTICIPACOES S/A
                             A PUBLICLY-HELD COMPANY
                          CNPJ/MF No 02.558.132/0001-69
                                  RELEVANT FACT


Tele Centro Oeste Celular  Participacoes S.A. ("The Company") hereby informs all
its  shareholders  and the general  public,  in compliance  with CVM Instruction
358/02,  that  it  has  been  notified  by  its  controlling  shareholder  of  a
Preliminary Share Purchase and Sale Agreement celebrated between its controlling
shareholder and Brasilcel N.V.  aiming to transfer the  controlling  interest of
the Company to Telesp Celular Participacoes S.A. or to another company belonging
to Brasilcel  N.V.'s  economic  group.  The  effective  transfer of  controlling
interest  of  the  Company  is  subject  to  the   implementation  of  preceding
conditions.

According to information provided by the controlling shareholder, Telesp Celular
Participacoes  S.A.  shall  guarantee  as of the date of  effective  transfer of
controlling   interest  of  the  Company,  the  sale  of  debentures  issued  by
controlling  company  Fixcel S.A.,  withheld by the Company and expiring on June
27, 2003 and on August 08, 2003.

Further details on the operation will be disclosed by the parties involved.


                           Brasilia, January 16, 2003.
                          Mario Cesar Pereira de Araujo
                     Chairman and Head of Investor Relations

<PAGE>

SIGNATURE

      Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.



                                      Tele Centro Oeste Cellular Holding Company


Date: January 16, 2003                By:   /S/ MARIO CESAR PEREIRA DE ARAUJO
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Name:  Mario Cesar Pereira de Araujo
                                          Title: President