Telecoms, IP Networks, Digital Media and Forecasts - Malta

Malta - Telecoms, IP Networks, Digital Media and Forecasts

MVNOs making a growing presence in Malta's mobile market

Malta's small telecom sector continues to be stimulated by regulatory measures designed to increase competition and to reduce consumer prices, as also to pave the way towards a national FttP telecom infrastructure. The regulator has also keenly promoted this infrastructure to develop the eCommerce sector, conscious that the country's geographic location and economy dominated by micro-businesses restricts the potential for companies to make effective use of online sales.

The broadband market remains largely controlled by two operators, with Melita retaining a monopoly on cable services and GO commanding a near complete dominance in the DSL market. Alternative broadband players have only a small share of the DSL market. An island-wide WiMAX service is provided by Vodafone. Broadband penetration, which for long was comparatively low by European standards, has risen sharply in recent years, while average broadband speeds have also increased rapidly on the back of operator investments in new technologies.

The value of Malta's telecom market, as also its contribution to the overall economy, has fallen since 2009. The decline is in line with other telecom markets in Europe and follows the global context of the economic downturn. Investment in telecoms networks was maintained into 2010, though this was mainly made up of investment from mobile operators which compensated for lower investment by other operators providing fixed-line services.

In the mobile market Vodafone Malta, and GO Mobile and Melita Mobile have been joined by a few MVNOs which are gradually extending market share, though the sector remains dominated by GO Mobile and Vodafone, which together control about 85% of the market by subscribers. These operators offer quad-play services including mobile combinations of voice, cable TV, IPTV and telephony, which as bundles make it hard for other operators to gain a foothold other than within narrow markets. Nevertheless, a sympathetic regulatory regime is having a marked effect on operator behaviour as they struggle to retain existing customers in an increasingly competitive market.

The key issue for coming years will be the continuing effort by the regulator to encourage a national broadband network through developing regulations attractive to investors, and so maintain momentum in one of Europe's smallest markets.

Malta Key telecom parameters 2014 (e)
Penetration of services | 2014 (e)
Fixed-line | 54%
Broadband | 35%
Mobile | 139%
(Source: BuddeComm)

Data in this report is the latest available at the time of preparation and may not be for the current year.

This report provides a comprehensive overview of trends and developments in Malta's telecommunications market. The report analyses the mobile, internet, broadband, digital TV and digital media sectors.

Subjects include:

Market and industry analyses, trends and developments;
Facts, figures and statistics;
Industry and regulatory issues;
Infrastructure;
Major players, revenues, subscribers, ARPU, MoU;
Internet, VoIP, IPTV;
Mobile voice and data markets;
Broadband (FttP, DSL, cable TV, wireless);
Convergence and digital media;
3G subscriber and mobile ARPU forecasts to 2015;
Broadband market forecasts for selective years to 2020.

Key developments:

Mobile network operators invest for future 4G deployment; government supporting a national FttP network, with a minimum broadband service being upgraded from 4Mb/s to 100Mb/s; Malta's first VoD service launched by Melita; Melita extends its 250Mb/s broadband service; Vodafone launches commercial LTE service; regulator to amend mobile licences to enable MNOs to deploy 4G technologies; government launches the Digital Malta: National Digital Strategy 2014-2020 program; regulator's market data updates to end-2013, telcos' operating and financial data to Q1 2014; market developments to June 2014.

Companies covered in this report include:

Vodafone, GO, Melita, SIS, Ozone, Redtouchphone, PING.

This report is essential reading for those needing high level strategic information and objective analysis on the telecom sector in Malta.

It provides further information on:

Market liberalisation and regulatory issues;
The impact of the global economic crisis;
Telecoms operators privatisation, acquisitions, new licences;
Mobile data market developments in coming years in light of spectrum auctions and new license awards in 2010;
3G developments, regulatory issues and technologies including HSPA;
Broadband migration to an FttP architecture;
Historical and current subscriber statistics and forecasts;
ARPU statistics and forecasts.