Number of high-speed Internet services users up about two times

The subscribers to high-speed, fixed-point broadband Internet access services in the first half of this year increased in number about two times compared with the corresponding period last year, from 75,000 to 149,900. The users of mobile Internet provided by 3G operators totaled 57,300, the National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology (ANRCETI) reports.

The number of subscribers to dial-up Internet access services fell by 51.5% to 26,000. The subscribers to fixed-point Internet access services numbered 175,800, an increase of 38.5% compared with January-June 2008. The penetration rate of these services per 100 people rose by 32.9% to 4.9%, while of the broadband Internet access services – by 95.8% to 4.2%. Though the last indicator grew considerably, its value is insignificant compared with the situation in the EU, where the average broadband Internet penetration rate exceeded 23%.

ANRCETI explains it by the fact that the high-speed Internet access services are developed mainly in the municipalities of Chisinau and Balti. The penetration rate of these services in Chisinau and Balti at the start of this year was 30.8% and, respectively, 10.6%, while in most of the districts it varied between 2.2% and 3.2%. The sales on the data transportation and Internet access services market grew by 42.9% to 214.5 million, while on the broadband Internet access services market – by 80.3% to 122.1 million lei. SA Moldtelecom has the largest market share by turnover – 66.8%.

Starnet and Telemedia Group hold shares of 9.1% and 6.1%. respectively, while the other 43 providers – 18.1% together.

Info-Prim Neo