Overview

The Republic of Moldova has a dynamic and competitive telecommunication market which is characterized by high Internet access speeds, good mobile services accessibility, and robust nationwide infrastructure. Fixed-line and mobile broadband sectors have seen years of solid growth.
The mobile market is currently responsible for generating a larger portion of the telecom revenue in the country. In the 2017 ITU’s (International Telecommunication Union) ICT Development Index, Moldova ranks 59th out of 176 countries.

The number of cable broadband subscribers is increasing steadily, though fiber is now by far the strongest sector; by the end of 2020 fibre accounted for about 72.3% of all fixed broadband connections;

SIM cards are extensively available in the market. Prepaid cards can be bought in different locations. Additionally, the provision of data plans has become an integral facet of contemporary telecommunications services. Given the escalating demand for data-driven applications, telecom companies provide an extensive range of data plans tailored to cater to diverse user requirements. Providing an ID is required.

For more information on telecoms contacts, please see the following link:  4.11 Additional Services Contact List

Telecommunications Regulations

The National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology (ANRCETI) is the primary regulatory authority responsible for overseeing the telecommunications sector in Moldova. It is an independent government agency tasked with regulating electronic communications, information technology, and postal services. ANRCETI also monitors compliance with regulations, investigates complaints, and adjudicates disputes between telecommunications operators and consumers.

At the legislative level, there are two main laws regulating telecommunications in Moldova:

• The Law on Electronic Communications is the primary legislation governing the telecommunications sector in Moldova. The law sets out the rules for obtaining licenses and permits to operate telecommunications networks and provide services, as well as the obligations of operators in terms of network access, interconnection, and service quality. It also addresses issues related to spectrum management, numbering, infrastructure sharing, and consumer protection in the telecommunications sector.
• The Law on Information and Communications Security establishes the legal framework for ensuring the security of information and communication systems in Moldova. It addresses cybersecurity issues, data protection, privacy rights, and measures to safeguard the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of information transmitted over electronic communications networks.

Importation of Dual-use equipment is subject to restrictions and additional steps may be required. For additional information and guidance on this, consult:  https://trade.gov.md/api/media/14/04/2020/GHID_Export_Control_ENG_19.12…f

Regulations on Usage and Import

Existing Humanitarian Telecoms Systems

An Interagency repeater has been acquired by UNHCR and is operated by WFP and UNDSS. It provides coverage for all UN agencies with operations in Moldova. However, the repeater only has coverage in the capital. In terms of VSAT, WFP is the only UN entity using Starlink at the moment.

At the moment of this assessment, no information is available of such systems being utilized by other humanitarian NGOs.

Existing UN Telecommunication Systems

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

Internet connectivity is widely available across the country with a mix of fibre, xDSL, and even Wireless last-mile connectivity. Internet Connectivity in Moldova is quite affordable being noted as one of the cheapest per Megabit in comparison to other countries, and also providing high-speed connectivity. In terms of internet, the market is highly competitive, with 101 active Internet Service Providers (ISPs) as of early 2021. The country ranks 3rd in the world by gigabit coverage with around 90% of the population having the option to subscribe to a gigabit plan

Currently, Moldtelecom is the dominant provider in this industry holding around 89% of the market share. Moldtelecom is the only ISP that offers its services throughout the country on a wide scale. The remainder is shared between some ISP's who provide triple play options to their customers, like SunCommunications and Arax. However, most if not all of them rent lines from Moldtelecom. Orange is the only exception as it counts with its own lines. All ISP's that offer their services across the country have their headquarters located in the capital city of Chişinău.

Mobile Network Operators (MNOs)

The mobile market sector now accounts for the majority of total telecoms revenue in the country. In terms of network coverage, 3G covers 99% of Moldova’s territory and 4G networks provide the coverage of 95% of the territory, serving 98% of the population according to ITU data. Although most MNOs provide coverage throughout the country, border areas – especially those closer to Transnistria – might present some connectivity issues. In terms of the market players, Orange and Moldcell are the two major players in this service.

Moldova does not currently make use of Mobile Money where payments are carried out to and from accounts held by network operators. Moldova does however make use of digital payment platforms and cash transfer applications that allow transfers of money to bank accounts based on a phone number. 

For information on MNOs please visit the GSM Association website.

[1] Please note that the Transnistria region is not covered by these providers.