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

In the first half of 2018, mobile broadband traffic (3G, 4G and dedicated access (modems / cards / USB)) increased by 31,1% compared with the same period of 2017, making up a total of 40 million 781,4 thousand GB. The highest traffic growth rate - over 71% - was generated by smartphone users - 16 million 592,6 thousand GB, while traffic generated by users of dedicated mobile Internet increased by 13% to more than 24 million 188,8 thousand GB.

According to the statistical data presented to ANRCETI by the three mobile communications providers (Orange Moldova, Moldcell and Moldtelecom - Unite), the total number of mobile broadband users increased, as compared to the end of 2017, by 6,4% reaching about 2 million 584,8 thousand, the number of dedicated mobile Internet users increased by 1,3% and amounted to 318,3 thousand. At the same time, 4G users (by phone and through dedicated access) increased by 15% and reached 796,3 thousand, the number of 4G mobile Internet users increased by 17%, making 713,4 thousand, the number of those who accessed dedicated mobile Internet via 4G increased by 0,7%, up to 82,9 thousand. As a result of this development, the broadband penetration rate per 100 inhabitants increased by 4,4 percentage points to 72,8%.

Following the increase in the number of users and the traffic, the total volume of revenues for mobile Internet access services increased by 18% compared to the first half of 2017 and came to more than 498,6 million lei. As a result, the average monthly revenue (ARPU) per mobile Internet smartphone user was 26,7 lei, and the ARPU per user of mobile dedicated Internet access practically kept to the level of 2017 – 78,1 lei.

September 10, 2018