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

In the timeframe January - September 2015 the total volume of voice traffic in mobile networks increased compared to the same period of last year by about 5% and exceeded 4,7 billion minutes, while the average monthly traffic per user increased by 8,2% up to 225 minutes or three hours and 45 minutes. These are the main statistical data on the evolution of the mobile market, published by the National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and information Technology (ANRCETI) on its official website.

According to the data presented to ANRCETI by the three mobile telephony providers (Orange Moldova, Moldcell and Moldtelecom), customers of Orange Moldova used on average 274 minutes per month for mobile phone conversations, followed by those of Moldcell - 167 minutes per month and those of Moldtelecom (Unite) - 113 minutes.

Following the increase of voice traffic in mobile networks, the total revenues of the three service providers increased compared to the nine months of last year by about 2% and exceeded 2,7 billion lei. This increase occurred mainly due to Moldcell’s and Moldtelecom’s increase of sales by 8,4% and respectively 7,7%, the volume being raised to 741,1 million lei and respectively 101,4 million lei. Meanwhile, the sales of Orange Moldova decreased by 0,8% and constituted 1,8 billion lei. As a result of this development, the average revenue per mobile service user (ARPU) increased by 3,7%, making 68.8 lei. For Orange Moldova, the value of this indicator was 81,1 lei, for Moldcell – 55,7 lei and for Moldtelecom – 33,6 lei.

Statistical data also show that in the three quarters of this year, the total number of mobile users decreased since the end of 2014 by 41,5 thousand (- 0,9%) and totaled more than 4 million 331,8 thousand, whereas the penetration rate of these services per 100 population dropped 121,8%. This trend is caused mainly by the fact that some of the consumers of mobile services stop using the SIM cards of one or another provider, given the end of service promotions launched by providers.

At the end of September, the market positions of the three mobile providers on the mobile telephony market did not change significantly since January 2015. The largest market share, according to turnover - 68,7% - was owned by Orange Moldova. Moldcell and Moldtelecom estimated market shares were 27,5% and 3,8%.

Other data with reference to mobile telephone market in three quarters of 2015 are available on www.anrceti.md, section Statistical Data.

November 23, 2015