Moldova's wireless services market grew 22.6 percent to just shy of 2.915bn lei ($272.6m at the current rate of the republic's National Bank) in 2008 compared to the previous year, RBC learned from Moldova's National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology (ANRCETI).
According to data provided to the agency by cellular providers, Orange Moldova posted the biggest revenue ($186.8m), while the revenues of Moldcell reached $71.8m, Unite $12.9m, and Eventis $1.1m. In terms of market shares by revenue, Orange Moldova ranked first with 68.52 percent, Moldcell second with 26.32, followed by Unite with 4.74 percent and Eventis with 0.41 percent. ARPU in this market segment amounted to $10.6. ANRCETI attributes the rise in revenues largely to considerable wireless subscriber base growth, including within the 3G services segment.
The total number of cellular subscribers grew 28.7 percent to around 2,423,400 people in 2008 from a year earlier, including 188,400 3G users. Wireless penetration per 100 residents increased from 55 percent in 2007 to 67.9 percent in 2008. According to the agency, investment in the sector totaled $114.5 in 2008, a 5.7 percent rise from the previous year.
Source: Interlic