Moldova has one of the lowest Internet development levels in Eastern Europe
and ranks 93rd worldwide on the United Nations e-Readiness Survey of 2008. 1 The
government has prioritized information and communication technology (ICT) as a
means for national development and adopted a national ICT strategy designed to
harmonize the sector with European standards by means of the European Union–
sponsored Electronic South Eastern Europe initiative (eSEE). The telecommunications
sector in Moldova is formally liberalized, but the government has faced problems privatizing the main operator. Privatization of the national operator is still under discussion.
Internet in Moldova
Internet penetration in Moldova has increased significantly in the past few years.
According to the ITU, at the end of 2006 approximately 10.6 percent of the country’s
population had Internet access. By 2008, penetration rates had risen to 16.2 percent. 2
Despite this high rate of growth, development of the Internet has been constrained by
a lack of quality infrastructure, low affordability, and the slow development of the
fixed-line sector. In 2007, the number of subscribers to Internet access services at fixed
locations increased by 33.2 percent, amounting to 110,200. 3
More than 93 percent of ADSL access is provided by a single ISP, Moldtelecom. 4
Broadband usage is increasing, driven by rising demand and falling prices. 5 The cost
for unlimited Internet ADSL access is approximately USD 11 a month (February
2009) 6 compared to EUR 25 a month a couple of years earlier. Broadband subscriber
penetration reached 3.23 percent, up 1.86 percent, with two-thirds of the subscriptions
concentrated in the capital, Chisinau, where household penetration was 30.8 percent.
Ownership of personal computers is also increasing, with 15.3 percent penetration as
of 2006. 7 Most users are under 35 years. 8 Nearly half access the Internet from their
place of work, 33.6 percent use Internet at home, and 8.1 percent use public access
KEY INDICATORS
GDP per capita, PPP (constant 2005 international dollars)
2,409
Life expectancy at birth (years)
69
Literacy rate (percent of people age 15þ)9 9
Human development index (out of 179)
113
Rule of law (out of 211)
148
Voice and accountability (out of 209)
132
Democracy index (out of 167)
62 (Flawed democracy)
Digital opportunity index (out of 181)
111
Internet users (percent of population)
16.2
Source by indicator: World Bank 2009a, World Bank 2009a, World Bank 2009a, UNDP 2008, World
Bank 2009b, World Bank 2009b, Economist Intelligence Unit 2008, ITU 2007, Miniwatts Marketing
Group 2009.
202
Moldova
and ranks 93rd worldwide on the United Nations e-Readiness Survey of 2008. 1 The
government has prioritized information and communication technology (ICT) as a
means for national development and adopted a national ICT strategy designed to
harmonize the sector with European standards by means of the European Union–
sponsored Electronic South Eastern Europe initiative (eSEE). The telecommunications
sector in Moldova is formally liberalized, but the government has faced problems privatizing the main operator. Privatization of the national operator is still under discussion.
Internet in Moldova
Internet penetration in Moldova has increased significantly in the past few years.
According to the ITU, at the end of 2006 approximately 10.6 percent of the country’s
population had Internet access. By 2008, penetration rates had risen to 16.2 percent. 2
Despite this high rate of growth, development of the Internet has been constrained by
a lack of quality infrastructure, low affordability, and the slow development of the
fixed-line sector. In 2007, the number of subscribers to Internet access services at fixed
locations increased by 33.2 percent, amounting to 110,200. 3
More than 93 percent of ADSL access is provided by a single ISP, Moldtelecom. 4
Broadband usage is increasing, driven by rising demand and falling prices. 5 The cost
for unlimited Internet ADSL access is approximately USD 11 a month (February
2009) 6 compared to EUR 25 a month a couple of years earlier. Broadband subscriber
penetration reached 3.23 percent, up 1.86 percent, with two-thirds of the subscriptions
concentrated in the capital, Chisinau, where household penetration was 30.8 percent.
Ownership of personal computers is also increasing, with 15.3 percent penetration as
of 2006. 7 Most users are under 35 years. 8 Nearly half access the Internet from their
place of work, 33.6 percent use Internet at home, and 8.1 percent use public access
KEY INDICATORS
GDP per capita, PPP (constant 2005 international dollars)
2,409
Life expectancy at birth (years)
69
Literacy rate (percent of people age 15þ)9 9
Human development index (out of 179)
113
Rule of law (out of 211)
148
Voice and accountability (out of 209)
132
Democracy index (out of 167)
62 (Flawed democracy)
Digital opportunity index (out of 181)
111
Internet users (percent of population)
16.2
Source by indicator: World Bank 2009a, World Bank 2009a, World Bank 2009a, UNDP 2008, World
Bank 2009b, World Bank 2009b, Economist Intelligence Unit 2008, ITU 2007, Miniwatts Marketing
Group 2009.
202
Moldova