Networks 4G cover 97 per cent of Moldova's residents

Chisinau, 5 June /MOLDPRES/ - The penetration of broadband internet access services increased up to 76 per cent of the residents in Moldova in 2018; the accessibility of services in diverse technologies is one of the most advanced, including globally. “At present, the networks 3G cover with signal 99 per cent of the country’s territory and population and the 4G networks provide the coverage of 94 per cent of the territory and 97 per cent of the residents,” Economics and Infrastructure Minister Chiril Gaburici has said.    
According to the minister, the Internet is an important engine in the development of the economy and the ten-per cent growth of the penetration of the broadband internet access has as effect a 0.24-1.5 increase in the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). “The improvement of the quality of communication services has an important place in the list of the Economics and Infrastructure Ministry’s priorities; thus, during 2018, more initiative were launched for the development of this sector,” Chiril Gaburici noted.    
An important factor contributing to the availability of the broadband internet access represents Moldova’s proximity to the terrestrial and sub-marine high speed data transmission main lines; in Moldova, four main networks of optic fibre have been created, which are connected to international main lines.  
Due to the Internet’s quality, friendly geographical position and policies worked out by the government, the first Moldova IT Park was set up in 2018, which registers 413 resident companies, of which 114 companies are from abroad, coming from 29 countries.
At the same time, decision-makers last year approved the strategy of development of the information technology industry and the ecosystem for digital innovation for 2018-2023 and an action plan on its implementation, which come with concrete interventions to achieve the priorities set for the next years. Also, another initiative for the development of this sector was the launch of the project, Digital Education, - a comprehensive process of rethinking of the technological and digital education in the entire education system.   
According to a press release by the National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology, in the first quarter of this year, “the market of broadband fixed Internet services continued to grow.” The total number of subscribers to the concerned services reached 631,800. The increase in the number of subscribers is due to the growth of the number of those choosing to connect to Internet via optic fibre, by 12,200 up to 406,400.   
At the same time, the overall sales made by those 87 active providers on this market segment increased by 19.6 million lei against the first quarter of 2018 and exceeded 334.7 million lei.