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

According to the statistical data for the first quarter of this year, reported to ANRCETI by 24 fixed voice providers, the main indicators of this market continue to decrease. Thus, the number of subscribers decreased in three months by 8,3 thousand (0,7%) and was estimated at 1,1 million, the total voice traffic diminished compared to the first quarter of 2018 by 12,6%, making 331,9 million minutes, and the total volume of sales decreased by 25,2 million lei (17,6%) compared to the same period of last year and was equal to 117,9 million lei.

The decrease of the total number of subscribers was caused by the decrease of the subscriber base of JSC Moldtelecom, by 7,8 thousand (0,8%), down to 982,7 thousand, and of the alternative providers by 424 (0,4%), reaching 117,3 thousands at the end of the first quarter. As a result of this evolution, the penetration rate of fixed voice services per 100 inhabitants decreased in three months by 0,2 pp. and reached 31%.

The decrease in the total volume of fixed voice traffic was determined by the drop in all types of traffic. Thus, the traffic to international networks decreased by 34,1%, the traffic in the same networks - by 13,7% and the traffic to mobile networks - by 2,1%. As a result, the average monthly voice traffic per subscriber (MoU) decreased by 10,2% and was equal to 158 minutes (two hours 38 minutes).

As a result of these developments, the average monthly income per subscriber (ARPU) became 35,6 lei, down by 6,3 lei (15%). The ARPU reported by JSC Moldtelecom was 37,8 lei, and ARPU of the alternative providers – 17,1 lei. At the end of the first quarter of 2019, the market share of JSC Moldtelecom, based on revenues, was 94,9%, and the cumulative share of alternative fixed voice providers reached 5,1%.

June 5, 2019