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

In 2015, the number of subscribers who used the number portability service increased over 2014 by 27,1% (+10,2 thousand) and exceeded 47,8 thousand, according to the data of the National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology (ANRCETI) on the evolution of number portability last year. In Moldova, the number portability service became available in July 2013. This service allows any mobile or fixed user to keep their phone number when switching providers.

According to ANRCETI data, from the total of numbers ported in 2015, 44, 8 thousand (93,8%) were mobile numbers and 2,9 thousand – fixed numbers (6,2%). 4 thousand ported numbers was the monthly average.

From the total of 44,8 thousand ported mobile numbers, Moldcell received the biggest part – over 28,5 thousand. Over 9,8 thousand numbers were ported to Orange Moldova and 6,5 thousand – to Moldtelecom (Unite). Meanwhile, 30,6 thousand numbers from Orange Moldova, 3 thousand numbers from Moldtelecom (Unite) and more than 11,1 thousand numbers from Moldcell migrated to other networks. As for the fixed telephony, from 2,9 thousand ported numbers, 1,5 thousand migrated to Starnet Solutions and 633 to Orange Moldova.

Since the number portability service was launched in Moldova in July 2013 until end of 2015, more than 114 thousand numbers have been ported, of which 104,5 thousand mobile (91,7%) and about 9,5 thousand – fixed (8,3%). ANRCETI specialists explain the insignificant quantity of fixed telephone numbers ported by the lack of alternative fixed networks with national coverage.

Over the last two and a half years, 3,8 thousand numbers on average were ported monthly in 2013, 3,1 thousand in 2014 and 4 thousand in 2015. Biggest number (more than 6,3 thousand) were ported in March 2015, most of them mobile numbers – 6,1 thousand. Most fixed telephone numbers – 760 – were ported in November 2013.

ANRCETI considers that the implementation of telephone number portability in Moldova has achieved its purpose: the service has become an effective tool for ensuring freedom of choice for users and stimulates competition on the telephony market. Therefore, telephone service providers became more responsive to customers’ requirements, while their offers – more attractive and convenient for subscribers.

According to the regulations issued by ANRCETI, any user can benefit from the number portability service within 5 working days after applying to the selected provider. Unlike many other countries, in Moldova this service is free of charge.

Additional information on the number portability procedure is available on www.portare.md.

January 6, 2016