Fixed internet dynamics

According to ANCOM statistics, the total number of fixed internet connections in Romania reached 4.8 million at the end of 2017, increasing by 7% compared to the previous year. By means of these, a total traffic of 5.1 million TB was achieved in 2017, while the average monthly consumption per connection reached 92 GB.

The number of fibre optic connections almost doubled (+ 94%) to 1.1 million. Moreover, most fixed internet connections (67%) enable data transfer speeds of at least 100Mbps, 11% speeds ranging from 30Mbps to 100Mbps, 13% from 10 to 30Mbps, only 9% enabling speeds up to 10Mbps.

Fixed internet penetration rate per 100 households was 58%, up 4 percentage points y.o.y.

Based on the total number of fixed internet connections at the end of 2017, the market leader held a market share of 49%, the second largest competitor 21%, the next competitor 13%, the rest of the providers totalling 17%.

Fixed internet in urban vs. rural areas

The number of fixed internet connections in the rural area witnessed significant increase - by over 13% - compared to the end of the previous year, reaching 1.4 million, while in urban areas this number saw slighter growth, by only 5%, up to 3.4 million. The penetration rate was 71% in urban and 41% in rural areas.

Fixed telephony evolution

The usage level of fixed telephony continued the downward trend in 2017, with decreases in both the number of access lines (-5%, to 3.9 million), and – especially – in the voice traffic segment (-16%, reaching 2.7 billion minutes).

Thus, the monthly average traffic achieved from a fixed line reached 57 minutes, 8 minutes less than the average value of 2016.

Based on the number of access lines, on 31 December 2017, the market leader held a market share of 43%, the second largest provider 33%, the next 14%, and the rest of the providers accounted for 10%. In terms of voice traffic, the market leader held a market share of 48%, the second largest provider 28%, the next one 7%, the others totalling 16%. 

Statistical data report

The statistical data report on the Romanian electronic communications market for the year 2017 has been drawn up by ANCOM on the basis of the statistical data reported half-yearly by the providers under the obligation to send to ANCOM the values of the indicators corresponding to the categories of services according to Decision no. 333/2013 and will be available soon on www.ancom.org.ro.