Moldova: Fixed-Line License Fee Set

27 May 2004 – According to a report by SeeNews, the Moldovan government has set the price of a fixed-line operator license at US$ 2.0 million as part of its efforts to liberalise its telecommunications sector. The successful bidder for a fixed license will be required to transfer the fee to the Finance Ministry within 30 days of signing the deal.

"The decision is related to the liberalisation of the local telecommunication market, one of the country's commitments to the World Trade Organisation," said Vladimir Vozian, economist at the National Regulatory Agency for Telecommunications and Informatics.

Moldova has a state-owned fixed-line monopoly, Moldtelecom. Moldtelecom had 63,400 subscribers in 2002. The government has unsuccessfully attempted to privatise Moldtelecom three times. The latest tender was voided in November 2002 after the government rejected a US$ 20 million bid for 51% of Moldtelecom offered by the sole bidder, Moscow City Telephone Network. The government ended Moldtelecom’s international call monopoly on January 1, 2004.

"We hope that the expected competition will bring telephone tariffs down," Vozian said.

Intelecon Research & Consultancy Ltd. 27/05/2004

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