The number of subscribers to landline telephone services in January-June this year continued to decrease, as did the voice traffic and sales of such services. This trend has marked the landline telephone services market during the last three years, IPN reports.

The statistics published by the ICT regulator (ANRCETI) show that the number of subscribers diminished by over 11,000 compared with the end of 2015 to over 1 million. The total volume of voice traffic declined by 109.7 million minutes on the first half of 2015 to 967.3 million minutes. Sales fell by 41.2 million lei to over 466.6 million lei.

According to the ANRCETI, the decline in the number of subscribers was due to the diminution of the client base of SA “Moldtelecom” by 15,800. The voice traffic in fixed-line telephone networks decreased owing to the decline in all types of traffic, while total sales fell following the decrease in the sales of most of the market operators.

The ANRCETI specialists said the reduction in the number of subscribers to landline telephone services and voice traffic is due to the migration of a part of subscribers to voice services provided through the Internet and mobile phone services that are more convenient for users.