17.12.2024

The number of 5G connections reached almost 2.9 million, and a third of fixed internet connections offered Gigabit speeds (2.2 million connections enabled at least 1 Gbps). The total fixed internet traffic increased by 7%, the mobile one by 5%, with an average traffic per inhabitant of almost 100 GB (86 GB fixed internet and 12 GB mobile internet), according to ANCOM’s statistical data report for the first half of 2024. Infographic here.

ANCOM`s report on the telecom market in the first half of 2024 is available here. The main developments are presented below:

Fixed internet

• The total number of connections reached 6.7 million (+2%), more than 95% allowing speeds exceeding 100 Mbps
• 33% of connections (2.2 million connections, up by +7%) allow speeds of at least 1 Gbps
• The average monthly traffic reached 87 GB per inhabitant (+7%), i.e., 2.9 GB/day
• At national level, the penetration rate per 100 households exceeded 81% (87% in urban areas and 74% in rural areas), maintaining the growth rate recorded in the previous period: 3% in rural areas and 1% in urban areas
• By number of connections, the top providers were Digi (71%), Orange (17%) and Vodafone (11%)

Mobile Internet

• The total number of active connections (21.3 million) remained almost constant (-1%), while 85% of these enable 4G and/or 5G (18.1 million)
• The number of 5G connections increased by 25% in the first half of the year, reaching 2.9 million (13% of the total); thus, 12% of mobile internet traffic was made through 5G
• Almost 20.5 million connections were made via mobile phone, the rest being via a modem/card/USB  
• The average monthly traffic was 12 GB (5%), approximately 400 MB/day
• By number of active connections, the top 3 providers were: Orange (36%), Digi (29%) and Vodafone (23%)

Mobile telephony

• 22,8 million mobile telephony active SIM cards (-3%), of which: 72% subscription-based and 28% prepaid card-based
• The increase in the number of subscription-based SIM cards (+0.5 million) partially offset the decrease in the number of prepaid card users (-1.3 million)
• Total voice traffic (29.8 billion minutes) registered a slight increase (+1%) after 4 consecutive years of decrease, while the average monthly traffic per inhabitant was 4 hours and 20 minutes
• Based on the number of active SIM cards as of mid-2024, Orange had a market share of 35%, Digi 27% and Vodafone 26%

Television

• The number of subscribers of TV services is constant: 7.8 million
• The trend in the users’ preference for switching to cable retransmission (+2% to 6.9 million subscribers) continues, while satellite/DTH services keep a declining trend (-12%)
• By total number of subscribers, Digi held a market share of 74%, Orange 14%, and Vodafone 10%

Telecom sector revenue

• Revenues from the telecom sector decreased by 5% in the first half of 2024, exceeding RON 8.2 billion (EUR 1.6 billion). This dynamics was determined by the decrease in the regulated call termination rates, as well as by a merger by absorption
• Internet (fixed and mobile) generated 39% of total revenues, followed by mobile telephony 30%, TV retransmission 15% and fixed telephony 8%
• By revenues from electronic communications networks and services, the top 3 providers were: Orange (37%), Digi (28%) and Vodafone (24%)

Statistical data report

The statistical data report on the electronic communications market in Romania for H1 2024 is prepared by ANCOM based on the statistical data reported half-yearly by the providers that have the obligation to transmit to ANCOM the values of the indicators corresponding to the categories of services according to Decision no. 333/2013 and is available, in Romanian, here.