“During the last year, broadband Internet access services raised significantly – 136%, the number of broadband connections by December 31, 2006, exceeding 1,750,000 and representing 54% of the total number of Internet access connections. Also, at present, the broadband penetration rate in Romania is 8.2%, our country ranking over the EU10 average (6.8%)”, Dan Georgescu, President of ANRCTI declared during the opening session of the 11th edition of the Communications Day, organised as part of the International Expo & Conference on IT & Communications (CERF).
At a European level, the highest broadband penetration rate is registered by Denmark – 30.3%, while Turkey is at the other end of the scale, with a penetration rate of 3%, while the EU average reaches 15.6%.
“The accelerated dynamics of the number of broadband connections, the raising level of competition in the major segments, the range of various technological solutions, as well as the growing volume of investments represent the key elements of the broadband electronic communications services market”, Dan Georgescu added.
Following the approval at the governmental level of the BWA strategic document, until the month of September 2007, ANRCTI will launch tenders for several WiMAX licenses. The right to use the spectrum will be granted for a period that does not exceed September 30, 2013 (the expiry date of the national licenses currently in force).
President Dan Georgescu also added that, while taking over the attributions of the former IGCTI, ANRCTI intends to better manage the budget by reviewing the tariffs collected from the operators in accordance with the actual needs of the institution and, at the same time, to continue being a modern regulatory body, in line with the European trends.
The event was also attended by Florin Bejan, State Secretary for Communications in MCTI, Varujan Pambuccian, President of the IT&C Committee in the Chamber of Deputies, representatives of the operators, providers of equipments and services, software companies, development centres, consultants, professional associations.
The presentation held by the President of ANRCTI, Dan Georgescu, is available here, on the website of ANRCTI.