points. The Internet subscriber statistics follow news that the growth of fixed-line telephony penetration in the country dropped to 3 percent in 2008 while mobile penetration rose by 28.7 percent over the same period. 9 Nearly 85 percent of Internet access
connections are mobile phone connections. In 2008, the Moldovan regulator reported
that the number of mobile Internet connections rose by 115.4 percent to 1,437,000. 10
Moldova has five tier-one providers: Moldtelecom, Telemedia Group, 11 Dynamic
Network Technologies (DNT), Relsoft, and Riscom. A further 11 ISPs provide access
to all regions of the country. The telecommunications market is dominated by Moldtelecom, which retains its near monopoly position in the market (98 percent). Market
liberalization in Moldova started before 2004, partly as a result of pressure to join the
WTO and harmonize its standards with the EU telecommunications legal framework.
Most of the ISPs rent infrastructure from Moldtelecom. Almost all ISPs exchange traffic
through an IXP controlled by Moldtelecom. Interdnestrcom is the only ISP offering
services on a wide scale throughout the breakaway region, Transnistria.
Fixed-line remains underdeveloped compared to other European nations, much like
Internet and broadband penetration. However, communications have recorded solid
growth, reaching more than 10 percent of the country’s GDP in 2007 (9.11 percent in
2008). 12 International Internet bandwidth in the country is currently 4,500 Mbps. 13
Between 2004 and 2007, mobile phone ownership increased from to 790,000 (23.2
percent) to 1,880,000 (55 percent). 14 There are more than 14 operators providing
VoIP services on the international voice market, although Moldtelecom has retained
the largest share. 15 The taxes on VoIP operators were reduced several times in recent
years. Operators need to obtain a license in order to offer IP services.
Approximately 5,000 domain names are registered in the ‘‘.md’’ domain, some of
which are foreign Web sites. 16 The most popular languages accessed by Internet users
are Romanian, Russian, and English. The most-visited local Web sites are local media
sites, forums, and advertising sites. The most-used local search engines are google.md,
ournet.md, super.md, and mail.ru. The main purposes for accessing the Internet,
according to respondents to a local survey, are sending and receiving e-mails, reading
political news, and looking up educational information. 17
Opposition groups have recognized the importance of the Internet. Most Moldovan
political parties have a solid online presence and frequently update their Web sites. 18
The government has invested in the Internet and actively supports an effort to ensure
that ministries and other public bodies maintain Web sites in order to bring more
transparency to their operation. More than 40.6 percent of Internet users report that
they frequently access government Web sites. 19
Legal and Regulatory Frameworks
In order to meet requirements for WTO and the EU accession, the telecommunications
market has been liberalized and no exclusive rights remain. 20 Moldtelecom—the
Moldova
203
connections are mobile phone connections. In 2008, the Moldovan regulator reported
that the number of mobile Internet connections rose by 115.4 percent to 1,437,000. 10
Moldova has five tier-one providers: Moldtelecom, Telemedia Group, 11 Dynamic
Network Technologies (DNT), Relsoft, and Riscom. A further 11 ISPs provide access
to all regions of the country. The telecommunications market is dominated by Moldtelecom, which retains its near monopoly position in the market (98 percent). Market
liberalization in Moldova started before 2004, partly as a result of pressure to join the
WTO and harmonize its standards with the EU telecommunications legal framework.
Most of the ISPs rent infrastructure from Moldtelecom. Almost all ISPs exchange traffic
through an IXP controlled by Moldtelecom. Interdnestrcom is the only ISP offering
services on a wide scale throughout the breakaway region, Transnistria.
Fixed-line remains underdeveloped compared to other European nations, much like
Internet and broadband penetration. However, communications have recorded solid
growth, reaching more than 10 percent of the country’s GDP in 2007 (9.11 percent in
2008). 12 International Internet bandwidth in the country is currently 4,500 Mbps. 13
Between 2004 and 2007, mobile phone ownership increased from to 790,000 (23.2
percent) to 1,880,000 (55 percent). 14 There are more than 14 operators providing
VoIP services on the international voice market, although Moldtelecom has retained
the largest share. 15 The taxes on VoIP operators were reduced several times in recent
years. Operators need to obtain a license in order to offer IP services.
Approximately 5,000 domain names are registered in the ‘‘.md’’ domain, some of
which are foreign Web sites. 16 The most popular languages accessed by Internet users
are Romanian, Russian, and English. The most-visited local Web sites are local media
sites, forums, and advertising sites. The most-used local search engines are google.md,
ournet.md, super.md, and mail.ru. The main purposes for accessing the Internet,
according to respondents to a local survey, are sending and receiving e-mails, reading
political news, and looking up educational information. 17
Opposition groups have recognized the importance of the Internet. Most Moldovan
political parties have a solid online presence and frequently update their Web sites. 18
The government has invested in the Internet and actively supports an effort to ensure
that ministries and other public bodies maintain Web sites in order to bring more
transparency to their operation. More than 40.6 percent of Internet users report that
they frequently access government Web sites. 19
Legal and Regulatory Frameworks
In order to meet requirements for WTO and the EU accession, the telecommunications
market has been liberalized and no exclusive rights remain. 20 Moldtelecom—the
Moldova
203