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

In nine months of 2018, the number of fixed-line users was estimated at about 1,1 million, down by 2,3% as compared to the end of 2017. The statistical data on the evolution of the fixed telephony market, aggregated by the National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology (ANRCETI), show that during this period the voice traffic generated by the users of this service decreased by 15,8% compared to the same period of last year and reached 1,01 billion, while the volume of revenues in the sector decreased by 20,4% to 422,2 million lei. As a result, the fixed penetration rate per 100 inhabitants dropped by 0,7 percentage points and made up 31,5%.

According to the data reported to ANRCETI by the fixed telephony service providers, in nine months of 2018, the decrease in the total number of subscribers was determined by the decrease of JSC Moldtelecom subscriber base by 1,9%, which was estimated at 998,5 thousand. At the same time, the cumulative number of subscribers of the 22 alternative providers decreased by 5% and equaled 119,3 thousand.

The decrease in the total volume of voice traffic occurred due to the diminishing of all types of traffic. Thus, compared to the same period of the previous year, the traffic to international networks decreased by 32,3%, the traffic in individual networks decreased by 15,9% and the traffic to mobile networks decreased by 15,6%. As a result, the average monthly voice traffic per subscriber (MoU) was 157 minutes (2 hours 37 minutes), which is a decrease by 12,4% in one year.

As a result of the decrease in the number of subscribers, voice traffic and total volume of revenues on the fixed telephony market in nine months of 2018, the average monthly revenue per subscriber (ARPU) decreased compared to the same period of last year by 18,2%, up to 41.5 lei.

As of September 30, 2018, 23 providers were operating on the fixed telephony market. The largest market share, according to revenues – 95,6% – was held by S. Moldtelecom, and the cumulative share of other fixed telephony providers reached to 4,4%.

December 5, 2018