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

The statistical data on the evolution of the mobile voice market in January - September 2018 shows that the downward trend of the main indicators is maintained on this market. So, compared to the same period of last year, in nine months the volume of voice traffic dropped by 8,2 million minutes (-0,6%) and was estimated at 4 billion 612,3 million minutes, the number of users decreased by more than 96 thousand (-2,2%) compared to the fourth quarter of 2017 and reached about 4 million 363,8 thousand (SIM cards), while the total volume of revenues decreased by 147,4 million lei (-5,8%) and reached over 2 billion 372 million lei. As a result, the average monthly revenue per user (ARPU) decreased by 2,3% and became 72,9 lei. The ARPU of Moldtelecom was 85 lei, Orange Moldova – 77,2 lei and Moldcell – of 63,6 lei.

According to data reported to the National Agency for Regulation in Electronic Communications and Information Technology (ANRCETI) by the three mobile communications providers (Orange Moldova, Moldcell and Moldtelecom-Unite), the volume of traffic in the networks of Orange Moldova and Moldtelecom, compared to nine months of 2017, increased by 0,7% and 10,6%, accordingly, and the traffic in Moldcell network decreased by 6%. Consequently, the average monthly traffic (MoU) of a user during the reporting period increased by 3,8% and became 271 minutes (four hours and 31 minutes) and a call lasted on average 1,7 minutes.

The decrease in the total number of mobile users was determined by the decrease of the subscriber base of Moldcell – by 54,5 thousand (-3,7%), estimated at 1 million 431,3 thousand and Orange Moldova – by 48,7 thousand (-1,9%), estimated at 2 million 550,2 thousand. The number of Moldtelecom-Unite subscribers increased by 7,1 thousand (+1,9%) and became 382,4 thousand. As a result, the penetration rate of mobile voice services (SIM cards) to 100 inhabitants decreased by 2,7 percentage points and equaled 122,9%.

During the reporting period, the market shares of the three mobile service providers, based on revenues, did not change significantly. At the end of September, Orange Moldova had a market share of 64,8%, Moldcell – 29,8% and Moldtelecom – 5,4%.

November 28, 2018