The number of Internet users in the first nine months of this year rose by 3.7% to 1.7 million, shows the data provided by the National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology, quoted by IPN.

The Internet traffic generated by the users increased by 38% to 28.229,9 million, while service providers’ revenues grew by 19.5% to over 429.5 million lei.

According to the data made public by the three providers of public mobile communications networks and services (Orange Moldova, Moldcell and Moldtelecom), over 1.3 million users used broadband mobile Internet, through 3G and 4G networks and modems/cards/USB, which ensure high-speed Internet access. The number of those who used 4G networks through the mobile/smartphone trebled to 84,700, while of those that used dedicated mobile Internet access services doubled to 13,500.

As a result of the rise in the number of users, the mobile broadband penetration rate per 100 people rose by 3.6% on the end of 2014 to 37%, while the dedicated mobile Internet penetration rate – by 0.5% to 8.3%.

At the end of the third quarters of 2015, the three Internet service providers had the following market share by turnover: Orange Moldova – 59.1%, Moldcell – 24.3% and Moldtelecom – 16.6%.