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

In the first three months of 2020, mobile broadband traffic (3G, 4G and dedicated access technologies (via modems/cards/USB)) increased, compared to the same quarter of 2019, by 41.1% and reached GBP 33.5 million GB. The highest traffic growth rate - 63.4% - was recorded by users of smartphones, who generated 16.8 million GB traffic volume, while dedicated mobile broadband users consumed more by 24.1%, generating 16.7 million GB traffic. A user who accessed mobile broadband via smartphone generated 2.6 GB average monthly traffic (AUPU), increased by 48.2%, and a dedicated broadband user - 24.2GB average monthly traffic, increased by 30.5%.

According to the statistical data submitted to ANRCETI by the three mobile providers (Orange Moldova, Moldcell and Moldtelecom - Unite), the total number of users who accessed mobile broadband decreased by 3.5%, compared to the end of 2019, and was estimated at about 2.3 million. The number of active users of dedicated mobile broadband decreased by 6.1%, to 222.7 thousand, while the number of users of mobile broadband via 4G technology decreased by 0.9% and was estimated at over 1.5 million.

At the same time, the number of mobile phone users who accessed mobile broadband via 4G decreased by 0.7% and totaled 1.4 million, whereas the number of users of dedicated mobile broadband via 4G decreased by 4%, making up 92.7 thousand. As a result, the mobile broadband penetration rate per 100 inhabitants decreased by 3.1 pp, reaching 85.7%.

The sales on this market segment increased by 8.8%, compared to the same period last year, and reached 298.6 million lei. The uptrend occurred due to the increase of revenues from mobile broadband services via smartphone by 12.2% (total - 238.2 million lei), while sales from dedicated mobile broadband services decreased by 2.9% and totaled 60.4 million lei. The average monthly revenue per smartphone mobile broadband user (ARPU) increased by 1.7% and reached 37.6 lei, and per dedicated mobile broadband user increased by 2.1% and reached 87.6 lei.

At the end of first quarter 2020, the market shares, by revenues, of the three mobile broadband service providers showed as follows: Orange Moldova - 63%, Moldcell - 29 % and Moldtelecom - 8%.

June 17, 2020