Moldova ranks eighth in CIS as regards the number of mobile telephony users

Moldova is eighth in CIS in what concerns the number of users of mobile telephony – about 1.3 mln customers, a research of the Russian consultancy company IKS-Consulting found. As regards the penetration rate of this type of telephony Moldova places sixth, 38% of the population. The highest number of subscribers is registered in the Russian Federation – 146.9 mln subscribers or 101% of the population. The second is Ukraine – 39.9 mln subscribers or 84% of the population, Kazakhstan – 7 mln (47%), Belarus – 5.5 mln (56%), Azerbaijan – 2.7 mln (33%), Georgia – 1.9 mln (43%), Uzbekistan – 2.1 mln (8%), Moldova – 1.3 mln (38%, Armenia – 0.9 mln (28%), Kyrgyzstan – 0.9 mln (18%), Tajikistan – 0.7 mln (10%), Turkmenistan – o.2 mln (3%). The total number of users constituted 210 mln in CIS in September. According to the data of the National Agency for Regulation in Telecommunications and Informatics of Moldova, the incomes obtained from providing mobile telephony services increased by 40.2% compared with the similar period of 2005 and amounted to MDL 1.34 bln. The number of mobile telephony subscribers increased by 185.9 thousand during January 1 - October 1, 2006 and amounted to MDL 1 bln 275.7 mln. As a result, the penetration rate increased from 32.2% to 37.6%. 4 mobile telephony operators are registered in Moldova. Of them, only two provide services. The third operator in GSM standard will launch its activity this year – Eventis Mobile and Moldtelecom will launch the mobile telephony in CDMA standard.