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

The National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology (ANRCETI) assessed the progress and performance indicators in number portability implementation as being satisfactory and believes that the project objectives have been achieved. Such an assessment is contained in the evaluation report (in state language) "Implementation of number portability in the Republic of Moldova" published on ANRCETI web site.

The report was prepared by ANRCETI pursuant to the Number Portability Implementation Program for 2011-2013, developed by ANRCETI and approved by order of the Ministry of Information Technology and Communications no. 52 of 30.06.2011. The reference timeframe of the report is: 01.07.2013 - 31.12.2013 – for mobile networks and 01.08.2013 - 31.12.2013 – for fixed networks.

The document provides for the objectives and the organizational stages before the launch of mobile and fixed number portability, the analysis of implementation progress and performance indicators, set in the above-mentioned Program, as well as the impact of this project on the telephone service market.

The authors of the Report have noted that the main objectives of the Program - competition development, new services at affordable prices, reduction of differences between rates for in-network and out-network calling, enhancing investments in infrastructure - have been met. The launch of service porting fostered the competition among providers, which fact added the maximum to the benefits of telephone users. The number portability, on the one hand, increased the freedom of choice for users and their bargaining power with providers, and, on the other hand, made the providers take additional efforts to keep their subscribers and attract new users through attractive offers at lower rates.

According to the Report, ANRCETI welcomes the fact that the providers involved in the number porting process do not charge the users for this service. However, the Report shows that there were cases, when the providers failed to meet the deadlines, established by ANRCETI for number porting and activation.

Number portability is a service that allows phone users to retain their telephone number when they switch providers. Starting July 1 and July 31, 2013, any mobile or fixed telephone user can benefit from number porting within 5 working days after submission of an application to the provider of his choice. By number portability implementation, the Republic of Moldova aligned to more than 70 states worldwide, including the 28 European Union countries, where portability has been functioning for several years.

March 21, 2014