database (registru.md) that acts as a central portal for all government department and services,
are highly advanced and have been used as a
model for other Commonwealth of Independent
States (CIS) countries. Some human rights
groups have voiced concerns that the database
is too comprehensive and lacks oversight. Given
that the legal basis for protecting citizens’ rights
to privacy is not yet defined, the information held
in the database represents a risk for unwarranted
(and unprecedented) surveillance. The president,
a former internal ministry general, supports the
register, which is not surprising given that it was
originally developed within the Ministry of Internal
Affairs. The telecommunications sector in
Moldova is formally liberalized, but the government has faced problems privatizing the main
operator.
Internet in Moldova
Internet use in Moldova has tripled since 2002
and penetration currently stands at 10 percent of
the population. 2 However, development is constrained by a lack of quality infrastructure, low
affordability, and the slow development of the
telecommunications sector. A national survey
indicates that 24.1 percent of the population
claim the Internet is very expensive and difficult to
afford. 3 Ownership of personal computers is low,
with only 3 percent penetration (as of 2004).
Nearly half of users access the Internet from their
place of work, 33.6 percent use Internet at home,
and 8.1 percent use public access points. 4
Moldova has seven tier-one providers:
Globnet, Moldtelecom, Telemedia, MDL.NET
(MegaDat), Dynamic Network Technologies
(DNT), Relsoft, and Riscom. A further eleven
Internet service providers (ISPs) provide access
to all regions of the country. International Internet
traffic is routed by way of providers in Europe.
The telecommunications market is dominated by
Moldtelecom, which retains its near monopoly
position in the market. Most of the other ISPs rent
infrastructure from Moldtelecom. All ISPs
exchange traffic via an Internet exchange point
located at Moldtelecom.
Fixed-line and mobile teledensity remain
underdeveloped, as do Internet and broadband
penetration; however, all have recorded solid
growth. 5 According to the national telecom regulator, dialup connections in the first nine months
of 2006 rose by 88.9 percent (375,500), while
broadband connections in this period tripled to
16,900. International Internet bandwidth in the
330
Country Summaries
KEY INDICATORS
worst
best
GDP per capita, PPP (constant 2000 international $) ........1,707 3.55
Life expectancy at birth (years)..............................................68 5.32
Literacy rate (% of people age 15+)......................................98 6.78
Human development index (out of 177) ...............................114 4.80
Rule of law (out of 208).......................................................135 3.81
Voice and accountability (out of 208)...................................141 4.01
Digital opportunity index (out of 180)...................................115 4.23
Internet users (% of population) ............................................9.5 3.95
Source (by indicator): World Bank 2005, 2006a, 2006a; UNDP 2006; World Bank 2006c, 2006c; ITU 2006, 2004
are highly advanced and have been used as a
model for other Commonwealth of Independent
States (CIS) countries. Some human rights
groups have voiced concerns that the database
is too comprehensive and lacks oversight. Given
that the legal basis for protecting citizens’ rights
to privacy is not yet defined, the information held
in the database represents a risk for unwarranted
(and unprecedented) surveillance. The president,
a former internal ministry general, supports the
register, which is not surprising given that it was
originally developed within the Ministry of Internal
Affairs. The telecommunications sector in
Moldova is formally liberalized, but the government has faced problems privatizing the main
operator.
Internet in Moldova
Internet use in Moldova has tripled since 2002
and penetration currently stands at 10 percent of
the population. 2 However, development is constrained by a lack of quality infrastructure, low
affordability, and the slow development of the
telecommunications sector. A national survey
indicates that 24.1 percent of the population
claim the Internet is very expensive and difficult to
afford. 3 Ownership of personal computers is low,
with only 3 percent penetration (as of 2004).
Nearly half of users access the Internet from their
place of work, 33.6 percent use Internet at home,
and 8.1 percent use public access points. 4
Moldova has seven tier-one providers:
Globnet, Moldtelecom, Telemedia, MDL.NET
(MegaDat), Dynamic Network Technologies
(DNT), Relsoft, and Riscom. A further eleven
Internet service providers (ISPs) provide access
to all regions of the country. International Internet
traffic is routed by way of providers in Europe.
The telecommunications market is dominated by
Moldtelecom, which retains its near monopoly
position in the market. Most of the other ISPs rent
infrastructure from Moldtelecom. All ISPs
exchange traffic via an Internet exchange point
located at Moldtelecom.
Fixed-line and mobile teledensity remain
underdeveloped, as do Internet and broadband
penetration; however, all have recorded solid
growth. 5 According to the national telecom regulator, dialup connections in the first nine months
of 2006 rose by 88.9 percent (375,500), while
broadband connections in this period tripled to
16,900. International Internet bandwidth in the
330
Country Summaries
KEY INDICATORS
worst
best
GDP per capita, PPP (constant 2000 international $) ........1,707 3.55
Life expectancy at birth (years)..............................................68 5.32
Literacy rate (% of people age 15+)......................................98 6.78
Human development index (out of 177) ...............................114 4.80
Rule of law (out of 208).......................................................135 3.81
Voice and accountability (out of 208)...................................141 4.01
Digital opportunity index (out of 180)...................................115 4.23
Internet users (% of population) ............................................9.5 3.95
Source (by indicator): World Bank 2005, 2006a, 2006a; UNDP 2006; World Bank 2006c, 2006c; ITU 2006, 2004