The number of users of mobile Internet based on the 4G technology in 2016 rose to 377,000, up 184.1% compared with the end of 2015. Of the total number of users, 319,000 accessed the Internet through smartphones, while over 57,000 through portable modems/cards/USB modems, IPN reports, quoting the ICT regulator ANRCETI.
According to the data presented by the three providers of mobile communications networks and services (Orange Moldova, Moldcell and Moldtelecom - Unite), the mobile broadband Internet penetration rate per 100 people increased by 12.3% to 53.3%.
The total volume of mobile broadband Internet traffic grew by 16.5% on 2015 to over 45.5 million GB. A user who accessed mobile broadband generated about 560 MB on average a month, by 56% more than in 2015, while a user of dedicated mobile broadband Internet - 9.8 GB, up 4.6% on a year before.
The sales of Orange Moldova came to 419.84 million lei, of Moldcell to 195.49 million lei, while of Moldtelecom to 97.85 million lei.
The monthly average revenue per user of dedicated mobile Internet rose to 77.2 lei, while the revenue per user of mobile broadband Internet increased to 24 lei.
At the end of 2016, the three providers of mobile broadband services had the following market shares by turnover: Orange Moldova – 58.9%, Moldcell – 27.3%, while Moldtelecom – 13.8%.
The ANRCETI said the 3G services were launched in the autumn of 2008, while the 4G services in November 2012. The 3G mobile electronic communications networks ensure data transfer speeds of up to 42 Mbps, while the 4G networks of up to 300 Mbps. At the end of last year, Moldova’s territory was 97% covered by radio signal deriving from 4G networks.
