Moldtelecom launches 3G network (Moldova)

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Commercial launch of W-CDMA/HSDPA services has been announced by Moldovan state-owned incumbent telecoms operator Moldtelecom under the brand name ‘Unite 3G’. A total of MDL250 million (USD19.2 million) has been invested by the telco.

Mobile CDMA2000 1x and 1xEV-DO services is already provided by the operator and it was first introduced in the capital, Chisinau in March 2007 under the ‘Unite’ banner. Mobile broadband at download speeds of up to 14.4Mbps, video calling and high quality voice services will be provided by Moldtelecom’s new 3G.

68% of the population is covered by the 3G network at its launch along with the country’s major cities and regional centers, as well as many rural regions. Increasing maximum downlink speeds to 21Mbps and adding television to its portfolio of services on offer is also on the company’s card.

Moldovan telco Moldtelecom reports 9% drop in revenue

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: A fall of 9% in the revenue has been reported by Moldovan incumbent telco Moldtelecom for the year ended December 31, 2009, earning a revenue of MDL2.4 billion (USD188 million). However, company’s profit from operating activities increased 3% year-on-year to MDL384 million due to the reduction in the costs by 11% during 2009.

4% increase in revenue in 2010 has been expected by the operator to MDL2.5 billion. The profit is predicted to remain stable compared to 2009. The total subscribers’ base of the firm reached 1.34 million, including 1.11 million fixed telephony customers and 101,000 mobile users.

An investment of MDL739 million was made by Moldtelecom during 2009, MDL55 million of which was ploughed into the deployment of infrastructure for the company’s new IPTV service, MDL156 million was spent on the rollout of a 3G network and MDL153.3 million was invested in the PSTN. The remaining amount was put into fibre-optic cable layout, CDMA network roll out, and information technology.

Moldova searching for third mobile phone market operator

CHISINAU.  Oct  6  (Interfax)  -  The  Moldovan National Regulatory
Agency in  Telecommunications  and Informatics (ANRTI) plans to announce
an international  tender  in  the  next two months to choose a third GSM
standard   cellular   operator  for  the  Moldovan  market,  Information
Development Minister Vladimir Molojen told Interfax.
     “A third operator in the country would not be too much,” he said.
     “There  are  reserves  and  the  appearance  of a new player on the
market will  contribute  to its development, bring in new investment and
balance out the tariffs on mobile phone services,” he said.
     The  cost  of  a  license  for  a  new  mobile operator would be $8
million.  The winner of the tender must submit $4 million within a month
after the tender and the rest of that amount within two years.
     The  two existing mobile operators in Moldova, Voxtel and Moldcell,
feel that  it  would  be  senseless for a new player to enter the market
since their services cover practically the entire country.
the Moldovan  market  since  1998.  Its  shareholders are France Telecom
Mobiles  with  51%, Moldavian Mobile Telephone Bis with 30%, MoldTelecom
with 10%,  the  International  Finance  Corporation  with 5%, and Orange
Romania with 4%.
     Moldcell  has  been  working  on the Moldovan communications market
since 2000.
     Voxtel  has a 60.5% share of the GSM standard communications market
in Moldova, while Moldcell has a 39.5% share.

Source- http://www.interfax.com