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

In 2017, the total number of fixed broadband subscribers increased by about 5% compared to 2016, up to 584.3 thousand, while the number of those who contracted high speed connections increased by 12.8% to over 335.1 thousand. The most important yearly evolution was attested on the segment of connections above 100 Mbps, their number increasing by 23%, up to about 40 thousand. These are the statistical data about the evolution of this market in 2017, aggregated by the National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology (ANRCETI).

According to these data, in 2017, the number of subscribers who contracted connections allowing data transfer speeds between 30 Mbps and 100 Mbps increased by 10% compared to 2016, and reached over 295.2 thousand. At the same time, decreases from 1 to 22% were recorded on low-speed connection segments. At the end of 2017, the share of subscribers to connections of over 100 Mbps speeds reached about 7%, and to connections allowing 30 Mbps - 100 Mbps raised to over 51.5%. At the same time, the share of subscribers for 10 Mbps - 30 Mbps connections decreased to 33.1%, for 2 Mbps - 10 Mbps connections - to 4.6% and up to 2 Mbps connections - up to 3.7%.

With reference to the end-user access infrastructure, the statistical data show an increase in the number of subscribers connected to the fiber optic Internet (FTTx - Fiber to the premises) and coaxial cable, while the number of subscribers connected by xDSL (Digital Subscriber Line) decreased. Thus, the number of users connected by means of optical fiber increased by 10.3% to over 347.6 thousand, by means of coaxial cable - by 8.2% up to over 41.7 thousand, while the number of subscribers connected by xDSL technologies dropped by 4.4% to 192.7 thousand. At the end of 2017, the most significant shares in the total number of subscribers represented Internet subscribers connected by means of FTTx technologies - 59.5%, followed by subscribers via xDSL - 33%, by coaxial cable - 7.1% and other technologies - 0.4%. In one year, the penetration rate of fixed Internet access services per 100 inhabitants increased by 0.8 percentage points and reached 16.5%.

According to the data presented to ANRCETI by 80 fixed broadband providers operating on the market, the revenues generated in 2017 from these services increased by 9.4% compared to 2016 and reached over 1 billion 209.5 million lei. The most significant revenue growth was attested by Starnet (+10.8%), Moldtelecom (+9.4%) and Sun Communications (+6.6%). The cumulative revenues of the other 77 fixed Internet access service providers increased by 8.2%. As a result of this evolution, the average monthly revenue per subscriber (ARPU) for these services increased by 4.4% compared to 2016 and equaled 177 lei.

The market shares of the biggest fixed broadband providers, by revenues, did not change significantly, compared to 2016. According to ANRCETI estimates, Moldtelecom's market share was 64,6%, while the shares of Starnet and Sun Communications - 20.7% and 5.1%, accordingly. The cumulative market share of the other 77 providers was 9.6%.

March 7, 2018