OREANDA-NEWS. In the first quarter 2016, the market for Internet access at fixed locations continued growing both in terms of subscribers, as well as revenues. The statistical data published by the National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology (ANRCETI) show that during January-March 2016 the number of subscribers to these services increased by about 3,5 thousand (+0,7%) up to 537,9 thousand, while the total revenues increased by 12,6 thousand lei (+4,9%) and exceeded 268 mln. lei.

According to data provided by 82 active providers of fixed Internet access services, the largest revenue increase was recorded by companies Moldtelecom – by 25,5% up to 13,5 mil. lei, and Sun Communications – by 8,4% up to 172,8 mil. lei. Revenues of company Starnet Solutions decreased by 9,6% and totaled 56,4 mln. lei, while the cumulative revenues of 79 other providers increased by 8,4% up to over 25,2 mil. lei. Following this development, the average revenue per user (ARPU) for fixed Internet access services increased by 0,3% and equaled about 167 lei.

The growth on this market segment is mainly due to a higher number of subscribers to high speed Internet. Thus, the number of FTTx (Fiber to the premises) subscribers increased 7,7 thousand (+2,7%) up to about 297 thousand. However, the number of DOCSIS (coaxial cable) subscribers dropped 1,9 thousand (-4,7%) and totaled 37,5 thousand, while the number of subscribers connected via xDSL (Digital Subscriber Line) dropped 1,8 thousand (-0,9%) to 201,6 thousand.