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

In the nine months of 2019, the fixed voice market decreased, as shown by the data processed by the National Agency for Regulation in Electronic Communications and Information Technology (ANRCETI). The number of fixed voice subscribers decreased, compared to the end of 2018, by 27,6 thousand (-2.5%) to a total of 1 million 80.6 thousand, the volume of voice traffic generated by the users of the service decreased, compared to the same period of last year, by 135 million minutes (-13.3 %) and made 880.9 million minutes, whereas the volume of incomes in this sector decreased by 81.3 million lei (-19.3%) to a total of 341 million lei. Consequently, the penetration rate of fixed voice services per 100 inhabitants decreased by 0.3 percentage points and equaled 40.3%.

According to the data reported to ANRCETI by the 25 fixed voice service providers, the decrease of the total number of subscribers was caused by the reduction of the subscriber base of both S.A. "Moldtelecom", as well as of alternative providers. Thus, the number of Moldtelecom subscribers decreased by 22.7 thousand (-2.3%), making up 967.8 thousand, and the number of subscribers of alternative providers decreased by 4.9 thousand (-4.1%), showing 112.8 thousand.

The decrease in the total volume of voice traffic was determined by the decrease of all types of traffic. Compared to the same period of the previous year, the traffic to international networks decreased by 33.1%, the traffic in the individual networks decreased by 15.5%, and the traffic to mobile networks decreased by 10.2%. As a result, the average monthly voice traffic per subscriber (MoU) decreased, compared to the similar period of 2018, by 11.7% and made up 139 minutes (2 hours 19 minutes), and the average duration of a call was 2,4 minutes.

The decrease in the number of subscribers and the total volume of incomes on the fixed voice market, the average monthly revenue per subscriber (ARPU) decreased, as compared to the same period last year, by 16.7%, reaching 34.6 lei.

As on September 30, 2019, the highest market share, in terms of revenues - 94.5% was owned by JSC "Moldtelecom", and the cumulative share of the other fixed voice providers was 5.5%.

December 4, 2019