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

In the first half of 2013, the number of mobile telephony users increased over the end of 2012 by over 215,5 thousand or by 5,28% and exceeded 4 mil. 295,6 thousand, whereas the penetration rate of these services per 100 inhabitants increased by over 6 percentage points (p.p.) and reached 120,7%, show the data available with the National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology (ANRCETI) on the evolution of the mobile telephony market in the first half of 2013.

This penetration rate shows that on average 120 SIM cards is the share for 100 inhabitants of Moldova, which means that part of users have two or more SIM cards. According to the data provided to ANRCETI by the three mobile providers (JSC Orange Moldova, JSC Moldcell and JSC Moldtelecom), on July 1, 2013, the number of active mobile users reached 3 million 611,3 thousand, passive users (those who have not used or paid for any mobile service for the last three months) was 684,3 thousand. 

In the timeframe under report, JSC Orange Moldova had the biggest number of new users connected to its individual network – over 177,1 thousand. The subscriber base of this provider increased over the end of last year by 7,9%, reaching 2 mil. 434 thousand subscribers, on July 1. The subscriber base of JSC Moldtelecom (UNITE brand), increased by 10,1% (28,4 thousand users) and reached 309,5 thousand. JSC Moldcell recorded the biggest increase in the number of users – 0,7% (about 10 thousand), having a subscriber base of 1 mil. 552 thousand on July 1, 2013.

The total volume of voice traffic in mobile networks increased, as compared to the fist half of 2012, by 8% and exceeded 2,8 billion minutes. However, the average monthly voice traffic per user (MoU) dropped by 6,7% to 113 minutes (one hour and 53 minutes). The number of SMS sent in mobile networks reduced by 10% and counted 309,1 mil.

As a result of the increase of the number of users and the traffic in mobile networks, the total volume of sales by the three mobile providers increased over the similar timeframe of 2012, by 3,4% and exceeded 1 billion 693,8 mil. lei. All the three mobile providers had increased revenues from the sales of mobile services. JSC Moldtelecom increased volume of sales by 13%, JSC Orange Moldova – by about 3,9%, JSC Moldcell – by 0,65%. The average monthly revenue per user (ARPU) dropped by 10,6 p.p. to 67,2 lei, compared to the same timeframe of last year. The ARPU of JSC Orange Moldova was 85,5 lei, JSC Moldcell – 44,6 lei and JSC Moldtelecom – 40,7 lei.

In the first half of 2013, the market shares of the three mobile providers did not undergo essential changes. In terms of turnover, the biggest market share – 71,2% – is the one of  JSC Orange Moldova, followed by JSC Moldcell and JSC Moldtelecom – 24,6% and 4,3% accordingly.

Other details about the evolution of the mobile market in the first half of 2013 are available on www.anrceti.md, section Statistical Data.

August 22, 2013