Romania - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband

Romania's telecom market has undergone several significant changes in recent years. Vodafone Group in July 2019 acquired Liberty Global's local unit UPC Romania, thus enabling Vodafone Romania to compete more effectively in offering bundled services. Orange Romania more recently acquired the fixed-line assets of Telekom Romania from Deutsche Telekom's subsidiary OTE. The deal, which requires regulatory clearances and could be completed by the end of 2021, was prompted by competition in the fixed-line segment, particularly from Digi, which would have compelled Telekom Romania to invest more heavily in fixed-line infrastructure.

The mobile market is served by network operators supported by pan-European players, including Vodafone Group and Orange Group. All have extensive LTE networks in place, while services based on 5G have been offered under their existing spectrum concessions since 2019. The delayed multi-spectrum auction, expected to be completed later in 2021, will enable the operators to expand 5G network capacity and enable consumers to make far greater use of the technology's potential. However, in line with legislation passed in July 2021 the MNOs will have to replace equipment provided by vendors deemed to be a security risk, essentially meaning that they will have up to seven years to replace core and non-core kit provided by Huawei.

This report provides an overview of Romania's fast-developing telecommunications market, covering regulatory developments, major players and fixed-line infrastructure, and offering a variety of operational and financial statistics as well as a range of subscriber forecasts. The report also covers the mobile voice and data markets, including profiles of the major operators, updates on spectrum auctions and regulatory developments. In addition, the report provides insights into the growing broadband market, covering technologies, the major players and market developments.

BuddeComm notes that the Coronavirus pandemic is having a significant impact on production and supply chains globally. During the coming year, the telecoms sector to various degrees is likely to experience a downturn in mobile device production, while it may also be difficult for network operators to manage workflows when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure.

Overall progress towards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some countries.

On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth.

Although it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts of the crisis as it develops, these have been acknowledged in the industry forecasts contained in this report.

The report also covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services. This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions.

Key developments:

Multi-spectrum auction delayed to late 2021;

Orange Romania continues building its own fibre network;

Vodafone Romania transfers passive infrastructure to Vodafone Towers;

Romania issues law banning Chinese vendors from 5G networks;

Regulator reduces MTR on a glidepath through to 2024, identifies 2,342 locations without fixed broadband coverage;

Orange Romania extends 5G to 15 cities, providing data at up to 1.2Gb/s;

Regulator again fines the MNOs for failing to provide sufficient mobile voice coverage as per their licence obligations;

About 79% of fixed broadband connections accessing 100Mb/s or above;

Report update includes the regulator's market data to December 2020, State Statistics data for 2020, telcos' operating and financial data to Q1 2021, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, recent market developments.

Companies mentioned in this report:

UPC Romania, RCS&RDS, Telekom Romania, Vodafone Romania, Orange Romania, Digi Mobil.

Key statistics

Regional European Market Comparison

Europe Telecom Maturity Index by tier
- Market Leaders
- Market Challengers
- Market Emergents
TMI versus GDP
Mobile and mobile broadband penetration
Fixed versus mobile broadband penetration

Covid-19 and its impact on the telecom sector

Economic considerations and responses
- Subscribers
Infrastructure

Telecommunications market

Overview and statistics

Regulatory environment

Historic overview
Regulatory authority
Fixed-line developments
- Telecom sector liberalisation
- Privatisation
- Access
- Interconnect
- Carrier Selection and Carrier PreSelection
- Number Portability (NP)
- European Electronic Communications Code
Mobile network developments
- Licensing
- Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
- Mobile Termination Rate (MTR)
- Roaming
- Network sharing
- SIM card registration

Mobile market

Market analysis
Mobile statistics
- General statistics
Mobile infrastructure
- Analogue networks
- 5G
- 4G (LTE)
- 3G
- Other infrastructure developments
Mobile voice
Mobile data
- SMS and MMS
Mobile broadband
Major mobile operators
- Vodafone Romania
- Orange Romania
- Telekom Romania Mobile (formerly Cosmote Romania)
- Digi Mobil
- Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs)
- Mobile Virtual Network Aggregators (MVNAs)
Mobile content and applications
- M-ticketing
- M-banking

Fixed-line broadband market

Introduction and statistical overview
- Market analysis
- Government programs
- Broadband statistics
Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) networks
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks
Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks
Other fixed broadband services
- Local Area Networks (LANs)
- Fixed wireless

Digital economy

E-government
- Infrastructure
E-health

Fixed network operators

Introduction
Telekom Romania

Telecommunications infrastructure

Overview of the national telecom network
- Telekom Romani
- Alternative operators
- Netcity
International infrastructure
Wholesale
Smart infrastructure

Appendix - Historic data

Glossary of abbreviations

Related reports

List of Tables

Table 1 - Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities - Romania - 2021 (e)
Table 2 - Increase in telecom market revenue - 2013 - 2020
Table 3 - Change in the share of telecom market revenue by type - 2016 - 2020
Table 4 - Change in retail and wholesale fixed-line market revenue (RON million) - 2014 - 2020
Table 5 - Decline in average monthly fixed-line revenue by subscriber and household (RON / month) - 2016 - 2020
Table 6 - Decline in fixed-line traffic by type (billion minutes) - 2009 - 2020
Table 7 - CS and CPS providers, fixed network - 2011 - 2020
Table 8 - Change in the number of annual fixed number portings - 2011 - 2020
Table 9 - Increase in the number of annual mobile number portings - 2011 - 2020
Table 10 - Increase in international voice roaming traffic - 2012 - 2020
Table 11 - Increase in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration - 2011 - 2026
Table 12 - Development of mobile market revenue (RON billion) - 2013 - 2020
Table 13 - Change in the average monthly mobile revenue by subscriber and household (RON / month) - 2016 - 2020
Table 14 - Decline in the proportion of prepaid to active postpaid subscribers - 2011 - 2020
Table 15 - Decline in the number of prepaid cards in service (million) - 2009 - 2020
Table 16 - Change in the number of Vodafone Romania's prepaid subscribers - 2010 - 2021
Table 17 - Decline in the number of Telekom Romania's prepaid subscribers - 2008 - 2020
Table 18 - Increase in mobile network (terminated) traffic - 2009 - 2020
Table 19 - Change in the volume of MMS messages sent - 2011 - 2020
Table 20 - Change in the volume of SMS messages sent - 2011 - 2020
Table 21 - SMS messages sent per subscriber - 2010 - 2020
Table 22 - Increase in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers - 2011 - 2026
Table 23 - Mobile internet, broadband connections by technology (million) - 2012 - 2020
Table 24 - Change in the proportion of mobile internet and broadband connections by technology - 2015 - 2020
Table 25 - Change in the number of mobile internet connections via cards/USB - 2011 - 2020
Table 26 - Mobile broadband traffic - 2011 - 2020
Table 27 - Change in mobile broadband penetration by connection type - 2010 - 2020
Table 28 - Change in the number of Vodafone Romania's mobile subscribers - 2011 - 2021
Table 29 - Increase in Vodafone Romania's mobile data traffic - 2012 - 2021
Table 30 - Drop in Vodafone Romania's mobile ARPU (€) - 2011 - 2021
Table 31 - Development of Vodafone Romania's mobile service revenue - 2014 - 2021
Table 32 - Decline in Orange Romania's mobile subscriber base - 2010 - 2021
Table 33 - Development of Orange Romania's revenue (€ million) - 2009 - 2021
Table 34 - Change in Telekom Romania's mobile financial data (€ million) - 2010 - 2020
Table 35 - Change in Telekom Romania's mobile financial data by quarter (€ million) - 2016 - 2020
Table 36 - Decline in Telekom Romania's mobile subscriber base - 2010 - 2021
Table 37 - Telekom Romania's mobile ARPU - 2010 - 2020
Table 38 - Development of Digi's subscribers by type - 2013 - 2021
Table 39 - Growth in Digi's revenue, by type (€ million) - 2012 - 2020
Table 40 - Growth in Digi's revenue (€ million) - 2018 - 2021
Table 41 - Development of Digi's annualised mobile ARPU - 2016 - 2020
Table 42 - Change in the number of fixed broadband ISPs - 2011 - 2020
Table 43 - Development of fixed broadband population penetration, urban and rural - 2011 - 2020
Table 44 - Development of fixed broadband household penetration, urban and rural - 2011 - 2020
Table 45 - Growth in fixed broadband data traffic - 2012 - 2020
Table 46 - Change in the number of fixed broadband providers by access type - 2011 - 2020
Table 47 - Change in the number of fixed broadband subscribers by access type (thousand) - 2010 - 2020
Table 48 - Change in the market share of fixed broadband connections by platform - 2014 - 2020
Table 49 - Change in the proportion of fixed broadband subscribers by access type - 2010 - 2020
Table 50 - Change in the number of fixed broadband subscribers, and penetration rate - 2011 - 2026
Table 51 - Increase in internet revenue (fixed and mobile) - 2013 - 2020
Table 52 - Increase in average monthly internet revenue (RON / month) - 2016 - 2020
Table 53 - Change in the number of fixed broadband subscribers by data speed (thousand) - 2011 - 2020
Table 54 - Change in the proportion of fixed broadband subscribers by data speed (Mb/s) - 2011 - 2020
Table 55 - Vodafone Romania fixed broadband subscribers - 2012 - 2021
Table 56 - Change in the number of cable broadband subscribers - 2011 - 2020
Table 57 - Increase in the number of Orange Romania's broadband subscribers - 2010 - 2021
Table 58 - Change in the number of DSL broadband subscribers - 2011 - 2020
Table 59 - Change in the number of Telecom Romania's broadband subscribers - 2010 - 2021
Table 60 - Change in the number of fibre broadband subscribers by type - 2011 - 2020
Table 61 - Change in the proportion of fibre broadband subscribers by type - 2011 - 2020
Table 62 - Increase in the number of Wi-Fi hotspot locations - 2011 - 2020
Table 63 - Decline in Telekom Romania's share of fixed lines in service - 2009 - 2020
Table 64 - Decline in Telekom Romania's fixed-line revenue - 2010 - 2020
Table 65 - Change in the number of Telekom Romania's subscribers by type - 2010 - 2021
Table 66 - Decline in the number of fixed-lines in service, by operator (million lines) - 2009 - 2020
Table 67 - Decline in the number of fixed-line subscribers - 2009 - 2020
Table 68 - Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity - 2011 - 2026
Table 69 - Increase in international internet bandwidth - 2011 - 2017
Table 70 - Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity (by population) - 2000 - 2010
Table 71 - Historic - International internet bandwidth - 2000 - 2010
Table 72 - Historic - CS and CPS lines - 2008 - 2017
Table 73 - Historic - Telekom Romania's fixed-line telephony subscriber base - 2006 - 2010
Table 74 - Historic - Mobile subscribers (active SIM) and penetration rate - 1997 - 2010
Table 75 - Historic - Ratio of active prepaid to active postpaid subscribers - 2000 - 2010
Table 76 - Historic - Mobile market investment - 2005 - 2012
Table 77 - Historic - Fixed broadband subscribers and penetration rate - 2002 - 2010
Table 78 - Historic - Cable broadband subscribers - 2003 - 2010
Table 79 - Historic - Internet users, subscribers and penetration - 1999 - 2015
Table 80 - Historic - Fixed wireless broadband subscribers - 2003 - 2017
Table 81 - Historic - DSL broadband subscribers - 2003 - 2010
Table 82 - Growth in UPC Romania's broadband subscriber base - 2006 - 2019
Table 83 - Historic - Change in the number of annual fixed number portings - 2008 - 2010
Table 84 - Historic - Increase in the number of annual mobile number portings - 2008 - 2010
Table 85 - Historic - Change in the volume of MMS messages sent - 2008 - 2010
Table 86 - Historic - Change in the volume of SMS messages sent - 2008 - 2010
Table 87 - Historic - Increase in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers - 2009 - 2010
Table 88 - Historic - Change in the number of mobile internet connections via cards/USB - 2008 - 2010
Table 89 - Historic - Development of Vodafone Romania's mobile subscriber base - 2008 - 2010
Table 90 - Historic - Drop in Vodafone Romania's mobile ARPU (€) - 2008 - 2010
Table 91 - Historic - Development of Vodafone Romania's mobile service revenue - 2010 - 2016
Table 92 - Historic - Change in the number of fixed broadband providers by access type - 2008 - 2010
Table 93 - Historic - Increase in the number of Wi-Fi hotspot locations - 2008 - 2010

List of Charts

Chart 1 - Europe Telecoms Maturity Index - Market Leaders (top tier)
Chart 2 - Europe Telecoms Maturity Index - Market Challengers (middle tier)
Chart 3 - Europe Telecoms Maturity Index - Market Emergents (bottom tier)
Chart 4 - Overall view - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per Capita
Chart 5 - Europe - mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 6 - Scandinavia and Baltics - mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 7 - Northern Europe - mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 8 - Southern Europe mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 9 - Eastern Europe mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 10 - Scandinavia and Baltics fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 11 - Northern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 12 - Southern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 13 - Eastern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 14 - Increase in telecom market revenue - 2013 - 2020
Chart 15 - Change in the share of telecom market revenue by type - 2016 - 2020
Chart 16 - Change in retail and wholesale fixed-line market revenue - 2014 - 2020
Chart 17 - Decline in average monthly fixed-line revenue by subscriber and household - 2016 - 2020
Chart 18 - Decline in fixed-line traffic by type - 2009 - 2020
Chart 19 - Change in the number of annual fixed number portings - 2011 - 2020
Chart 20 - Increase in the number of annual mobile number portings - 2011 - 2020
Chart 21 - Increase in international voice roaming traffic - 2012 - 2020
Chart 22 - Increase in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration - 2011 - 2026
Chart 23 - Development of mobile market revenue - 2013 - 2020
Chart 24 - Average monthly mobile revenue by subscriber and household - 2016 - 2020
Chart 25 - Decline in the proportion of prepaid to active postpaid subscribers - 2011 - 2020
Chart 26 - Decline in the number of prepaid cards in service - 2009 - 2020
Chart 27 - Change in the number of Vodafone Romania's prepaid subscribers - 2010 - 2021
Chart 28 - Decline in the number of Telekom Vodafone Romania's prepaid subscribers - 2008 - 2020
Chart 29 - Increase in mobile network (terminated) traffic - 2009 - 2020
Chart 30 - Change in the volume of MMS messages sent - 2011 - 2020
Chart 31 - Change in the volume of SMS messages sent - 2011 - 2020
Chart 32 - Increase in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers - 2011 - 2026
Chart 33 - Mobile internet and broadband connections by technology (million) - 2012 - 2020
Chart 34 - Change in the proportion of mobile internet and broadband connections by technology - 2015 - 2020
Chart 35 - Change in the number of mobile internet connections via cards/USB - 2011 - 2020
Chart 36 - Change in mobile broadband penetration by connection type - 2010 - 2020
Chart 37 - Change in the number of Vodafone Romania's mobile subscribers - 2011 - 2021
Chart 38 - Increase in Vodafone Romania's mobile data traffic - 2012 - 2021
Chart 39 - Drop in Vodafone Romania's mobile ARPU - 2011 - 2021
Chart 40 - Development of Vodafone Romania's mobile service revenue - 2014 - 2021
Chart 41 - Decline in Orange Romania's mobile subscriber base - 2010 - 2021
Chart 42 - Development of Orange Romania's revenue (€ million) - 2009 - 2021
Chart 43 - Change in Telekom Romania's mobile financial data - 2010 - 2020
Chart 44 - Change in Telekom Romania's mobile financial data by quarter - 2016 - 2020
Chart 45 - Decline in Telekom Romania's mobile subscriber base - 2010 - 2021
Chart 46 - Development of Digi's subscribers by type - 2013 - 2021
Chart 47 - Growth in Digi's revenue, by type - 2012 - 2020
Chart 48 - Growth in Digi's revenue (€ million) - 2018 - 2021
Chart 49 - Change in the number of fixed broadband ISPs - 2011 - 2020
Chart 50 - Development of fixed broadband population penetration, urban and rural - 2011 - 2020
Chart 51 - Development of fixed broadband household penetration, urban and rural - 2011 - 2020
Chart 52 - Growth in fixed broadband data traffic - 2012 - 2020
Chart 53 - Change in the number of fixed broadband providers by access type - 2011 - 2020
Chart 54 - Change in the number of fixed broadband subscribers by access type - 2010 - 2020
Chart 55 - Change in the proportion of fixed broadband subscribers by access type - 2010 - 2020
Chart 56 - Change in the number of fixed broadband subscribers, and penetration rate - 2011 - 2026
Chart 57 - Increase in average monthly internet revenue (RON / month) - 2016 - 2020
Chart 58 - Change in the number of fixed broadband subscribers by data speed (thousand) - 2011 - 2020
Chart 59 - Change in the proportion of fixed broadband subscribers by data speed (Mb/s) - 2011 - 2020
Chart 60 - Vodafone Romania fixed broadband subscribers - 2012 - 2021
Chart 61 - Change in the number of cable broadband subscribers - 2011 - 2020
Chart 62 - Increase in the number of Orange Romania's broadband subscribers - 2010 - 2021
Chart 63 - Change in the number of DSL broadband subscribers - 2011 - 2020
Chart 64 - Change in the number of Telecom Romania's broadband subscribers - 2010 - 2021
Chart 65 - Change in the number of fibre broadband subscribers by type (thousand) - 2011 - 2020
Chart 66 - Change in the proportion of fibre broadband subscribers by type - 2011 - 2020
Chart 67 - Increase in the number of Wi-Fi hotspot locations - 2011 - 2020
Chart 68 - Decline in Telekom Romania's share of fixed lines in service - 2009 - 2020
Chart 69 - Decline in Telekom Romania's fixed-line revenue - 2010 - 2020
Chart 70 - Change in the number of Telekom Romania's subscribers by type - 2010 - 2021
Chart 71 - Decline in the number of fixed-lines in service, by operator - 2009 - 2020
Chart 72 - Decline in the number of fixed-line subscribers - 2009 - 2020
Chart 73 - Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity - 2011 - 2026

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1 - Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 2 - Access, the local loop and unbundling - an overview
Exhibit 3 - Multi-spectrum auction results - 2012
Exhibit 4 - Multi-spectrum auction results - spectrum allocation - 2012
Exhibit 5 - Overview of provider services by technology

Romania - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Description

Table of Contents

List of Tables

Romania sees more telecom market consolidation

Key developments:

Companies mentioned in this report:

Table of Contents

Key statistics

Regional European Market Comparison

Covid-19 and its impact on the telecom sector

Telecommunications market

Regulatory environment

Mobile market

Fixed-line broadband market

Digital economy

Fixed network operators

Telecommunications infrastructure

Appendix - Historic data

Glossary of abbreviations

Related reports

List of Tables

List of Charts

List of Exhibits