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

The statistical data on audiovisual program retransmission services (multichannel TV services), made publicly available on the web site of the National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology (ANRCETI), show that the ascending trend in the use of digital TV services is becoming more prominent. Thus, in the first quarter of 2012 the total number of subscribers to multichannel TV services increased over the number registered at the end of 2011 by 2,5%, reaching 262,5 thousand, whereas the number of consumers of these services in digital format increased by 5,7% and totaled 84,8 thousand.

During the reporting timeframe, the number of subscribers to cable TV services increased over the number registered at the end of 2011, by 3%, to IPTV networks – by 2%, while the number of subscribers to satellite networks (DTH) decreased by 2%. As per 31.03.2012, of the total number of subscribers, 217 thousand (82,7%) were connected to multichannel TV services provided via cable, 35,8 thousand (13,6%) – via IPTV, 6,1 thousand (2,3%) – via satellite networks (DTH) and 3,5 thousand (1,3%) – via MMDS (Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service). The penetration rate of multichannel TV services per 100 inhabitants was over 7,4%.

According to data available with ANRCETI, the majority of digital TV subscribers are consumers of services provided via cable networks and based on IPTV technology. At the end of the first quarter of 2012, the share of subscribers to cable networks within the structure of digital TV service consumers was 46,1%, of IPTV subscribers – 42%.

The same data show that out of the total number of subscribers to services provided via cable networks 84,8 thousand use digital TV, and 213,5 thousand – analog TV. Thus, the share of the number of subscribers to digital cable networks within the structure of total cable subscribers reached 28,4%, the new subscribers increasingly choosing digital services.

As a result of the increase in the number of subscribers, the revenues generated by sales of audiovisual program retransmission services grew to about 76,5 million lei, and the average monthly revenue per users (ARPU) of multichannel TV services was 51,12 lei.

In the reprting timeframe, cable operators’ sales equaled to 39,8 million lei. The highest were the revenues of LLC „Sun Communications” and JSC „Moldtelecom” – with sales of 13,5 million lei and 9,2 million lei accordingly. The ARPU of LLC „Sun Communications” was 41,11 lei, of JSC Moldtelecom – 84,76 lei.

In the first quarter of 2012, the market for audiovisual program retransmission services was operated by 125 providers. The shares, in terms of turnover, were as follows: LLC „Sun Communications” – 33,83%, JSC „Moldtelecom” – 23,05%, LLC „AMT” – 4,37% and CTC Alfa – 2,34%. The other providers shared the 36,41%.

Other data about the development of this market in the first quarter of 2012 are available on the agency Web site: www.anrceti.md, section Statistical Data.

June 21, 2012