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

In the first half of this year, the market for Internet access at fixed locations increased by 16.8 % over the same period last year, and totaled about 245.6 million lei, show the data provided by the National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology (ANRCETI - www.anrceti.md).

This trend was driven by the increased sales of companies MOLDTELECOM and STARNET. Moldtelecom recorded 175.5 million lei sales (increase 19.1%) and STARNET - 29 million lei sales (increase 64.3%). The other operators’ turnover was 41.1 million lei. The increase of sales volume occurred due to the growing number of subscribers to broadband Internet and by the more diverse offers from providers.

The number of subscribers to Internet at fixed locations increased over the first half of 2009, by 54.1% and reached 235,000, of which 231,000 (98.1%) are subscribers to broadband Internet, and 4000 (1.9%) – to dial-up Internet. However, the number of 3G broadband mobile Internet users raised to 107,400, of mobile multimedia users - to 2 million 171 000.

According data provided by ANRCETI, the most significant market share of Internet access at fixed locations - 70.5% - belongs to Moldtelecom. Companies „Starnet" LLC and JSC „Orange-Moldova” shares are 12.1%, and 4.5%. The other operators in that market share the remaining 12.9%.

Additional information about the developments in the market for Internet access at fixed locations for the first half of 2010 can be found on the Agency: www.anrceti.md, under „Statistical Data”.

August 11, 2010