Arlington, VA – The U.S. Trade and Development Agency is strengthening global cybersecurity by piloting American technology for a proposed security operations center (SOC) in Moldova. USTDA announced an agreement with Moldova’s state-owned telecommunications company, Moldtelecom JSC (Moldtelecom), that funds a feasibility study and pilot project to help dramatically strengthen cybersecurity across Moldtelecom’s networks. Moldova frequently serves as a test bed for malicious cyber actors that subsequently target the United States and allied nations, and hardening Moldtelecom’s infrastructure against intrusion will directly protect both Moldovan and global critical infrastructure from future attacks.
“This project hardens a strategic partner’s critical telecommunications infrastructure against malign actors and generates actionable cyber threat intelligence that can work together with U.S. cybersecurity efforts,” said Thomas R. Hardy, USTDA’s Deputy Director. “This project will give Moldova new tools and expertise to protect its citizens, secure its democratic institutions, and confidently advance its digital modernization agenda.”
Moldtelecom selected Virginia-based Pythia International Inc. to carry out the feasibility study, which will pilot U.S. cybersecurity technology. The study will deliver a technical assessment of Moldtelecom’s existing networks and capabilities, a cyber risk assessment identifying major threats, and a fully functional pilot solution. USTDA support for this pilot project strengthens the ecosystem of American innovation behind Super Intelligence technologies.
Moldova’s rapid expansion of digital infrastructure has accelerated connectivity and economic modernization, but it has also sharply increased the country’s exposure to cyber threats. Attacks targeting Moldovan government institutions, critical infrastructure, and democratic processes have risen dramatically in recent years. This project will directly address those vulnerabilities by equipping Moldtelecom with the trusted tools, expertise, and institutional capacity needed to monitor, detect, and respond to cyber incidents at scale.
Viorel Motorniuc, Moldtelecom Interim Director General, said: “We are deeply grateful to USTDA for their trust in Moldtelecom and for supporting us in an area that is fundamental to our future. For us, cybersecurity is not simply a technology priority – it is a responsibility we have to our customers, our partners, and to Moldova’s digital future. This grant gives us the opportunity to bring leading international expertise and advanced cybersecurity practices into the continued development of Moldtelecom. More importantly, it strengthens our ability to protect the critical communications infrastructure that people, businesses and public institutions across Moldova rely on every day. I am particularly proud that this partnership brings Moldtelecom and USTDA together around a shared ambition: to build a more secure, resilient and trusted digital environment for Moldova. We see this as an important step forward for our company, and as a meaningful contribution to the country’s long-term digital resilience.”
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The U.S. Trade and Development Agency is the U.S. government’s first mover on critical infrastructure development in emerging markets, advancing the shared strategic priorities of the United States and our overseas partners while creating opportunities to deploy trusted U.S. solutions. USTDA funds the upfront technical work that accelerates the development of infrastructure projects, helping them attract the financing they need for implementation and procurement of U.S. goods and services.
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