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

Persons intending to run business on the market of public electronic communications networks and services will benefit from a simplified general authorization conditions, from an updated classified list of types of networks and services, simplified standard forms for notification and compilation of informative declaration. These are set by the new version of the Regulations on General Authorization Regime and License Issuance for the Use of Limited Resources, which came into force today, February 4th, being published in the Official Gazette.

The document was approved by the Administrative Board of the National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology (ANRCETI) in decision No. 57, of 21.12.2010 and registered with the Ministry of Justice under No. 808 of 31.01.2011. By the same decision the previous Regulation adopted by Board Decision No. 10 of 28.08.2008 was repealed. By approving the new Regulation the Agency updated the general authorization conditions and the license issuance procedure for the use of radio frequencies and/or channels and numbering resources. All the aspects of the general authorization and license issuance for the use of scarce state resources have been brought in line with the current situation in the electronic communications sector of without having established new legal rules and changed the essence of previous regulations.

The new version of the Regulations provides for the types of electronic communications networks and services, conditions of provision, the general authorization and licensing procedure of, the standard forms of licensing, notification and informative declaration. The document is structured into three chapters: general provisions, general authorization regime and licensing arrangements, accompanied by eight appendices that contain forms of documents required for the general authorization procedure and the licensing. All the forms for these documents have been simplified and updated.

According to the regulations, the general authorization regime is applicable for six types of public networks (terrestrial networks with access at fixed locations, terrestrial electronic communications distribution and transportation, terrestrial radio cell mobile networks, terrestrial radio broadcasting networks, satellite access networks) and six types of public electronic communications services (telephone, call transportation, leased lines, data transmission, Internet access, audiovisual program services).

ANRCETI has been applying the general authorization regime for the provision of electronic communications networks and services from September 15, 2008. This procedure simplified the entrance into the market and minimized the costs incurred by new entrants. The procedure consists in filing a note to the agency stating the applicant’s intent to provide electronic communications networks and/or services at least seven days before starting the operation. Within 7 days from the date of notification, the Agency issues a statement, confirming the submission of the notification by the applicant and his appearance in the public register of electronic communications network and service providers, this giving the applicant the right to operate.

Under the legislation in force, the provision of public electronic communications networks and services is subject to general authorization regime by the regulatory authority, whereas the use of scarce state resources (radio frequencies/channels/numbering resources) is subject to licensing, issued by ANRCETI.

February 4, 2011