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

Mobile operators „Orange Moldova”, „Moldcell” and „Moldtelecom” will complete the works to provide the radio signal coverage for all the shadow zones on the national roads and adjacent localities, as specified in their license conditions, before the end of the first quarter of 2011.

The representatives of these companies informed the public about their intent during the session of the working group, created in July 2010 by ANRCETI in order to ensure the coverage of territory and population with mobile signal. The working group consists of members from the Agency, Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications, National Radio Frequency (CNFR) and the three mobile companies.

The license conditions require that mobile operators ensure 60-85% territory coverage, including national roads Chisinau – Leuseni; Chisinau – Bender; Chisinau – Balti; Balti – Cernauti (Ucraina). JSC „Moldtelecom” has the same obligation in terms of the road Chisinau – Hancesti – Cantemir – Cahul – Vulcanesti. The measurements made by the CNFR showed that the operators exceeded the indicator as set in the license conditions. However, a total of 50 uncovered zones were detected on the given roads.

In compliance with the Action Plan, developed by the working group in August 2010, during the last quarter of 2010, company „Orange Moldova” covered six out of ten shadow zones on the mentioned roads, „Moldcell” – two out of nine, „Moldtelecom” – seven out of 31. These zones were covered as a result of reconfiguration of networks, additional equipment installed, partial use of pillars belonging to the three operators, as well as the seven pillars put up by company „Moldtelecom”.

During the same timeframe, the operators started works to ensure the coverage of the remaining 35 shadow zones: „Orange Moldova” – four zones, „Moldcell” – seven and „Moldtelecom” – 26. In most cases, the operators have shadow zones on the road sectors near Rusca and Pervomaiscoe, district Hancesti; Ivancea, district Orhei; Hlinaia, Bratusenii Noi and Cupcini, district Edinet; Tabani and Caracusenii Noi, district Briceni. The representatives of the three companies assumed the obligation to complete the works by the end of the first quarter of 2011.

At the proposal of ANRCETI, the working group decided to analyse, in the first quarter of 2011, the radio signal coverage of other nine roads of major importance for the country and develop actions intended to increase the coverage of those roads by three mobile operators.

According to the statistical reports presented to ANRCETI, on October 1, 2010, JSC „Orange Moldova” ensured 98,9%, radio signal coverage of the territory, SA „Moldcell” – 97,3% and JSC „Moldtelecom” – 97,0%.

December 28, 2010