Malta Commuication Profile 2012

30/10/2010   Telecoms, IP Networks, Digital Media 
The main challenge for 2011 will further work by the regulator to encourage an NGN in developing regulations that promote investment by operators. To this end, Government's Green Paper on NGN has established policies for network deployment. These measures will be essential to maintain momentum in such a small market - the revenue of the telecommunications sector fell 6.4% in 2009, year on year, while operators have difficulty in financing the renovation of a period of slow economic growth.

The deregulation of telecommunications in Malta, the MCA has addressed a number of areas to reduce prices for consumers and stimulate competition. Recent decisions and consultations have affected the market for voice termination, interconnection pricing and unbundling the local loop.

Although unbundling the local loop was the law because, since 2003 he has been very little take up, with the result that most service providers offer broadband Internet to resell the incumbent, GO. A number of ISPs failed in 2009 and 2010, and since GO picked most of these he was able to increase its market share. Indeed, the number of alternative broadband players decreases rapidly, and in 2010 they had only an insignificant market share. The sector is dominated by the GO and Melita Cable, ensuring competition inter-platform, if Vodafone also offers a service throughout the island WiMAX. broadband penetration remains relatively low by European standards, and broadband speeds are relatively slow, in early 2010, approximately 72% of subscribers had a connection between 4Mb / s and 6MB / s, while only 9.6% had a connection with at least 10MB / s.

In the mobile market, the duopoly of Vodafone and Go Mobile ended with the launch of Melita Mobile in early 2009. Melita - as GO - now offer quadruple-play services, including voice and mobile data, while Vodafone has a triple-play. The three mobile operators have invested in upgrades to HSPA. The entry of mobile Melita changed the dynamics of the mobile market, but prices are still moving among the highest in the EU.