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

In the first half-year of 2010 the number of fixed subscribers reached 1 million 150,9 thousand, exceeding by 1,9% the number recorded in the same timeframe of 2009, whereas the volume of fixed sales for these services was 918,4 million lei, a decrease by almost 1 percent (0,94%). These data are available at the National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology (ANRCETI).

These contradictory trends occurred in 2009 and continued to be felt this year. Thus, on the background of the growing number of subscribers, in the first quarter of this year, the sales of fixed telephone services decreased compared to the same period last year, by 1.6% and in the second quarter - by 0.38%. In this time frame, the sales of company MOLDTELECOM dropped slightly (0.07%) and were approximately 909.5 million lei. The sales of the alternative fixed telephony operators dropped by over 51%, recording about 9 million lei.

Following these developments, in the timeframe under report, the average monthly revenue per user (ARPU) decreased compared to the first half of 2009 by 2.9% and totaled 133.7 lei. MOLDTELECOM recorded 136.2 lei ARPU (down by 1.7%), and alternative operators - 47.3 lei (down by 56.2%). The Agency specialists believe that the reduction of sales on fixed telephony market occurred due to the mature state of this market and the effects of fixed-mobile substitution.

The data indicate that the number of subscribers to MOLDTELECOM fixed telephone services increased by 1.54% and reached 1 million 116, 2 thousand, and those of alternative operators - by 14.7% and reached almost 34 700. During this time Moldtelecom connected about 17,000 new subscribers, alternative operators - over 4400.

During the reporting period, 17 providers operated on the fixed telephony market. The biggest player in this market - Moldtelecom - has 98.96% and the other 16 players share 1.04% of the market.

Other details about the fixed market evolution in the firs half-year of 2010 can be found on the agency web page: www.anrceti.md, under „Statistical Data”.

August 12, 2010