The number of subscribers using broadband fiber optic internet (FTTX) services rose by 13.4% last year to about 394,000. Meanwhile, the number of subscribers using coaxial cable connections increased by 4.9% to 44,300. Digital subscriber line (xDSL) connections dropped by 5.5%, to 182,000 users.
According to the National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology, the total number of subscribers to fixed broadband Internet services constituted 623,000 users. During a year, the penetration rate of fixed Internet services per one hundred population increased by one percentage point to 17.5%.
The 88 active broadband service providers earned more than 1.2 billion lei combined. The largest growth in sales was reported by Starnet (+ 8%) and Moldtelecom (+ 5.2%). Sun Communications sales volume dropped 28%.
The monthly average revenue per user (ARPU) for these services increased by 1.2% compared to 2017 and amounted to 179 lei.
The market shares of the largest fixed broadband service providers are as follows: Moldtelecom - 63.7%, Starnet - 20.9% and Sun Communications - 3.5%. Other providers have 11.9% combined.
