Moldovan operators' fixed internet sales grew by 4.9 percent year-on-year in Q1 to 268 million lei, according to a report by telecommunications authority ANRCETI.

The number of subscribers to these services increased by about 3,500 or 0.7 percent to 537,900. The largest increases in sales were recorded by Sun Communications and Moldtelecom.

Sun Communications' sales increased by 25.5 percent to about MDL 13.5 million and those of Moldtelecom by 8.4 percent to about MDL 172.8 million.

Starnet Solutions' sales decreased by 9.6 percent to MDL 56.4 million and the cumulative volume of sales of the other 79 suppliers increased by 8.4 percent to over MDL 25.2 million.

ARPU of internet access services at fixed locations increased by 0.3 percent to about MDL 167.

Sales growth in this market segment is due largely to an increasing number of subscribers to fixed broadband internet. FTTx subscribers increased by 7,700 (2.7 percent) to about 297,000, the number of Docsis subscribers fell by 1,900 or 4.7 percent to 37,500, while the number of xDSL end-users dropped by 1,800 or 0.9 percent to 201,600.

In terms of turnover, Moldtelecom is first with a market share of 63.8 percent, Starnet Solutii with 19.9 percent, Sun Communications with 4.8 percent and other suppliers with 11.5 percent, Telecompaper reports.