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

Statistical data on broadband access subscribers and technologies, published on the official website of the National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology (ANRCETI) show that in the first qtr. of 2014 the number of new mobile broadband subscribers (via modems and data cards) registered a higher growth rate than the number of fixed broadband subscribers: it increased by 11,2 thousand (+4,3%) and exceeded 270,8 thousand, the number of fixed broadband subscribers – by 12,4 thousand (+2,7%) thousand and exceeded 479,5 thousand.

In the reporting timeframe, JSC Moldcell, from among the three mobile network providers (JSC „Orange Moldova”, JSC „Moldcell” and JSC “Moldtelecom”, offering mobile communications services under the brand “Unite”), had the highest number of new subscribers to mobile broadband – about 7 thousand (+8,4%), followed by JSC „Orange Moldova” that connected 2,3 thousand (+2%) subscribers, JSC “Moldtelecom” – 1,9 thousand (3,2%). On April 1, 2014, JSC „Orange Moldova” had over 118,8 thousand broadband subscribers, JSC „Moldcell” – 89,9 thousand, JSC “Moldtelecom” – 62,1 thousand. In the same timeframe, the total mobile broadband traffic grew over the first quarter of 2013 by 22% and amounted to 6 million 349,3 thousand GB. The average monthly traffic generated by one mobile broadband subscriber was 8 GB.

According to the data submitted by 62 fixed broadband providers, in the timeframe under consideration, the biggest number of new subscribers – 8,8 thousand (+3,9%) – were connected to the network by means of FTTx technologies (Fiber to the premises). The connections of subscribers by means of xDSL (Digital Subscriber Line) grew by 2,9 thousand (+1,4%), by means of cable TV – 1,6 thousand (+5,7%). As per April 1, 2014, the share of subscribers connected via FTTx networks in the structure of the total number of fixed broadband subscribers, was 49,6%, via xDSL networks – 43,9%, and via cable TV – 6,2%.

JSC “Moldtelecom” connected the biggest number of subscribers – 6,4 thousand – to its fixed broadband network. LLC „Starnet Solutions” and LLC „Sun Communications” connected 5,7 thousand and 1,2 thousand new subscribers. However, subscriber base of the 59 other providers jointly fell by about a thousand customers. In the same period, the penetration rate of fixed broadband services per 100 population increased by 0,4 p.p. and reached about 13,5%.

The data aggregated by ANRCETI show that during the first qtr. the revenues of the three mobile network providers from mobile broadband increased over the same period of 2013 by 8,3% and amounted to about 72,4 million lei. The total volume of sales by 62 providers of fixed broadband services increased by 22,9% up to 243,4 million lei, the bulk of this sum – over 226 mil. lei being obtained from sales of broadband access services. The ARPU for mobile broadband services was 90,9 lei and for fixed broadband services – 159,3 lei.

At the end of the first qtr., the three mobile network providers had the following market shares, by turnover, on mobile broadband market: JSC "Orange Moldova" – 38,3%, JSC "Moldcell" – 35,1% and JSC "Moldtelecom" – 26,6%. On the fixed broadband market, the shares were distributed as follows: largest market share – JSC "Moldtelecom" (63%), followed by LLC "Starnet Solutions' (20%) and JSC" Orange Moldova "(2.9%). Other providers jointly held 14,2% share.

Other data about the evolution of the broadband access market in the first qtr. of 2014 are available on ANRCETI web page: www.anrceti.md, section Statistical Data.

June 6, 2014