-5- 2.4. SWOT analysis 13. The generalization of analysis on the addressed dimensions identifies the following advantages, disadvantages, opportunities and threats in the development of the Information Society in the Republic of Moldova: INFRASTRUCTURE AND ACCESS Advantages (Strengths) 1) High speed of Internet access; 2) High technological level and a high level of mobile electronic communications services accessibility; 3) Relatively high level of electronic communications infrastructure development; 4) The legal framework for electronic communications is mainly aligned to the European Union’ legal framework; 5) The existence of institutional regulatory framework and of the growing regulatory capacities; 6) Competition on mobile telephony sector and Internet ; 7) Advantageous geographical location of the Republic of Moldova; 8) Mobile telephony and Internet access segment are developing quite fast and the majority of fixed Internet connections are made via broadband. Disadvantages (Weaknesses) 1) Access gap between urban and rural areas; 2) Broadband connectivity is not present on the entire territory at the required speed; 3) Too high prices in relation to GDP/ per capita; 4) Underdeveloped usage capacity of existing electronic communications infrastructure (lack of infrastructure in some localities); 5) Low competition in local loop and broadband access to the copper loop/sub-loop services; 6) The absence of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO); 7) Misuse of the transit capacities throughout the territory of the country; 8) Restricted access (mainly by prices) to the historical operator of the associated infrastructure (especially to the sewerage system); 9) Associated infrastructure (pillars, sewerage system and other) is inadequately divided ; 10) Outdated regulations of the construction industry regarding the electronic networks placement; 11) Limited access to associated infrastructure and local loop, interconnection tariffs are not cost-oriented, historical operator tariffs non-rebalancing ; 12) Low Broadband Internet penetration comparing to EU average. Opportunities Threat (risks) 1) Legislative and regulatory framework 1) Low level of the GDP; improvement and its harmonization with EU 2) Crisis prolongation and decrease of investments capacities; regulations; 3) Failing to recover investments in rural areas; 2) Fast extension of Internet use in the society 4) Political evolutions; (more than a half of population use it); 5) Corruption and bureaucracy; 3) Republic of Moldova is a testing ground for 6) Continuation of political factor involvement in the operational new mobile communications technologies; management of the state institutions and enterprises; 4) Use of the digital dividend. 7) Violation of the radio frequency spectrum policy, of the National table of frequency band allocation (NTFBA) and National electronic numbering plan (NENP) by the Transnistrean region [ f a r D ] t CONTENT AND SERVICES Advantages (Strengths) 1) The Government of the Republic of Moldova adopted the direction for EU integration, including alignment to EU standards in the ITC sector; 2) Implementation of joint M-Cloud platform for e-Governance and implementation of the Interoperability Framework; 3) Open Government Data Initiative; 4) Launching of the mobile digital signature; 5) Issuance of electronic ID card. Disadvantages (weaknesses) 1) Limited availability of local information content and of relevant public applications; 2) Small number of electronic services and lack of local digital content; 3) Legal and regulatory framework is not yet entirely adjusted to new realities of the digital era; 4) Lack of the management framework of the digital content life cycle; 5) The interoperability framework is still not functional;

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