As many as 44,720 numbers had been ported during a year, since telephone number portability became available in Moldova. Of them, 90% are mobile phone numbers, while 10% are fixed phone numbers, the National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology (ANRCETI) has said.

Number portability enables users to keep their telephone numbers when they decide to change providers. ANRCETI Director Grigore Varanita said that as a result of the implementation of number portability, telephone users started to enjoy broader freedom of choice and increased capacity for negotiating with providers. Thus, the providers male effort to keep their customers and attract others by more convenient offers, at more reasonable prices.

Before the launch of number portability, the three mobile and fixed phone carriers developed new offers for the users for a one-year period, which, for the first time in Moldova, included unlimited calls to all telephone networks in the country, mobile broadband, SMS and international calls at lower prices. The ICT regulator expects the providers will launch new attractive offers after July 1.

During a year, SA “Moldcell” accepted the biggest number of new numbers to its network – 24,812, followed by SA “Orange Moldova” and SA “Moldteleom” (“Unite” brand) with 8,038 and 7,526 numbers respectively.

The 4,344 fixed numbers were ported to the networks of the 18 fixed telephone providers. Most of the numbers were ported to the networks of “Starnet Solutii” SRL (2,351), SA “Orange Moldova” (1,231) and “Arax-Impex” SRL (238). ANRCETI specialists explain the insignificant number of ported fixed numbers by the lack of alternative fixed networks with national coverage and the impossibility of users connected by means of analog technologies to have their numbers ported.

By implementing number portability, Moldova aligned itself with the 70 states where this service has been used for several years.