National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology of the Republic of Moldova

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Sergiu Sitnic, Director of the National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology (ANRCETI) said that in 2010, the number of providers of electronic communications services that will benefit by direct access to the Global Internet, is expected to increase, whereas the intensified competition on broadband Internet market will be conductive to a drop in tariffs for the end users of those services.

S. Sitnic specified that currently only one provider – SA „MOLDTELECOM” – has direct fiber access to the Global Internet at the western border of the Republic of Moldova, which allows him to apply exaggerated pricing for the world web access services, sold to other providers. In order to redress the current situation and create favorable conditions for the development of broadband Internet access services, the Agency developed and approved, pursuant to Government Decree no. 974 of 12.08.2008, a procedure intended to coordinate between the public authorities involved, all the activities, implying installation, operation, management and/or liquidation of electronic communications networks at state border of Moldova.

Companies „Orange Moldova” SA and „Starnet” LLC were the first providers to request in 2009, that the Agency authorize them to install their networks up to the border line with Romania. Currently the companies are finalizing the works, whereas the Agency has received another similar request from company “Norma” SRL.

The works being finalized, according to the established procedure, the representatives of the Agency and other authorities involved in this matter, will check the work of the mentioned companies and authorize them for activities of installation, operation, management and/or liquidation of those networks. Sergiu Sitnic expressed his confidence that both companies will successfully accomplish the interconnection of their networks with the ones of Romanian partners as soon as possible. He stressed the fact that both the providers of electronic communications services and the users will have a gain as a result of direct access to the Global Internet.

In his opinion, the facilitation of direct access to the Global Internet will substantially enhance the pace of broadband market development, factor expected to contribute to the improvement of high-speed Internet access offers in terms of price and quality of services.

According to the statistical data, offered to the Agency by providers, in 2009 the penetration rate of broadband Internet access services per 100 residents, increased by 0,86 percentage points over 2008 and constituted 5,23%.

February 25, 2010