EC: Local telecom market has one of the lowest rates in terms of broadband internet penetration in the EU

The penetration rate of broadband internet services amounted to 11.7 percent in January 2009, compared to less than nine percent in the first month of 2008 and is one of the lowest in Europe mainly due to the poor penetration of PCs, the late launch of internet services on the market, poor broadband coverage, and the population’s low income, especially in rural areas.

“A comprehensive strategy and further investment would be necessary to improve broadband penetration,” said the EC report.

Although mobile broadband internet solutions are used in Romania, these technologies are considered less stable and with a lower capacity than fixed networks.

Main internet service providers are RCS&RDS, with more than 850,000 users, Romtelecom, which is also the largest landline phone operator on the local market, with over 550,000 clients, and UPC Romania, with over 230,000 users, while the mobile internet market is dominated by Orange and Vodafone, the top two mobile phone operators.

Last October, the mobile phone penetration rate was 103 percent, higher than the 86 percent rate registered one year earlier, but below the 119 percent average mobile phone service penetration rate in the European Union.