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

In 2018, 18 entrepreneurs obtained, under the general authorization regime, the right to provide publicly available communications networks and/or services and 2 applicants - the right to provide postal services. According to the data available with the National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology (ANRCETI), at the end of last year, the total number of businesses included in the Public Registry of electronic communications network and service providers reached 492, while the number of those included in the Public Registry of postal service providers - 39.

In 2018, the number of subscribers who used the number portability service increased, compared to 2017, by 2,9 thousand and reached 34,2 thousand, according to the data available with the National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology ( ANRCETI) about the evolution of number portability last year. This service allows any mobile or fixed-line user to keep their phone number when switching providers.

The report on the evolution of the electronic communications market in the third quarter of 2018, published on the official website of the National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology (ANRCETI), shows that the total volume of revenues in the sector (mobile and fixed voice, mobile and fixed broadband, transmission and retransmission of audiovisual programs and other activities in the field of electronic communications) continued to decrease, compared to the same period of last year, by 4,2% and was estimated at 1,6 billion lei.

The statistical data on the evolution of the pay TV market (cable networks and IPTV networks) in nine months of 2018, aggregated by the National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology (ANRCETI), show that the IP TV market continued to grow, against the backdrop of cable TV market reduction.

In nine months of 2018, the market for fixed broadband Internet access services increased significantly. Thus, the volume of revenues on this market increased by 6,5% compared to the same timeframe of 2017, reaching 975,9 million lei, while the number of subscribers to these services increased, compared to the end of 2017, by 3,9% and made up more than 608,1 thousand. As a result of this development, the average monthly revenue per subscriber (ARPU) for fixed Internet access services was 178,9 lei, up by 1,4%.

In nine months of 2018, the number of fixed-line users was estimated at about 1,1 million, down by 2,3% as compared to the end of 2017. The statistical data on the evolution of the fixed telephony market, aggregated by the National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology (ANRCETI), show that during this period the voice traffic generated by the users of this service decreased by 15,8% compared to the same period of last year and reached 1,01 billion, while the volume of revenues in the sector decreased by 20,4% to 422,2 million lei. As a result, the fixed penetration rate per 100 inhabitants dropped by 0,7 percentage points and made up 31,5%.

The National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology (ANRCETI) opened public consultations on its official web page on the draft analysis (.pdf) of the transit market for traffic in public telephone networks (Market no. 9) and the project (.pdf) of the ANRCETI Administrative Board Decision regarding the ex-ante regulation of this market. The deadline for submitting recommendations on the papers submitted for consultation is December 21, 2018.

On November 29-30, 2018, a team of ANRCETI specialists took part in a workshop organized in Chisinau, under TAIEX technical assistance tool, on aspects of licensing conditions, spectrum allocation and mobile services quality, including broadband. The event was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure and of the Public Institution "National Service for Radio Frequency Management". The workshop was delivered by two experts from the Communication Regulatory Authority of Slovenia (AKOS).

The National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology (ANRCETI) announces an examination session for granting radio amateur certificates. The exam will take place on 27.12.2018, starting at 13.00, at ANRCETI office, 134, Stefan cel Mare si Sfant bd., Chisinau mun. The application file has to include the following: the application form (.pdf) [.doc, .docx], copy of the identity document, two color photographs 3x4 cm. The deadline for submission of files is 13.12.2018. More information can be obtained at ANRCETI office, contact person: Andrian Turcan, ph: 0 22 251310; e-mail: andrian.turcan@anrceti.md.

According to the data on the evolution of the market for mobile broadband services in nine months of 2018, aggregated by the National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology (ANRCETI), the number of users accessing 4G broadband increased significantly, by the end of 2017, by 42,2%, up to 984,2 thousand, and the number of users of broadband access (smartphones) and dedicated access (via modems / cards) increased by 20,9% and exceeded 2,9 million. The volume of traffic during this period increased by 29,8% compared to the same period of last year and reached 61,3 million GB, while the total volume of sales in this sector increased by 17,3% and amounted to 779,3 million lei.