Investment in mobile networks compensates falls in other sectors
Malta's small telecom sector has been stimulated by a number of regulatory measures designed to increase competition and reduce consumer prices. These have affected the voice termination market, interconnection pricing and local loop unbundling, and provided for a number of MVNOs to operate in the mobile sector.
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. 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 2011 and 2012 will be the continuing effort by the regulator to encourage an NGN through developing regulations attractive as investment opportunities, and so maintain momentum in one of Europe's smallest markets.
Market highlights:
- Malta's telecom sector revenue fell by an estimated 3.5% in 2010 as the general economic, continuing a trend first seen in 2008 more than 6% in 2009 having shown 7% growth in 2008. The country's economic demise has not been as severe as in other areas of the EU, which has helped the three main telcos weather a difficult period with reduced revenue. Although Malta's market is restricted by the country's small population it benefits from having most inhabitants concentrated in a few towns, and so telcos can provide services to the majority with relatively little expense.
- By the end of 2011 the larger part of mobile networks will have been upgraded with HSPA technology, allowing them to promote mobile data services. LTE networks have not yet been considered viable Vodafone and GO Mobile, but current investments are being undertaken with a view to enabling the technology in future.
- Operators have focussed much effort into developing convergent services, with Melita and GO and Vodafone all competing with quad-play. Quad play far outnumbers other bundled offers, in contrast to most other markets where dual play prevails as the most popular combination.
- The government in early 2012 called for a national FttH network to be built, with a minimum broadband service being upgraded from 4Mb/s to 100Mb/s.
Key Topics Covered:
1. Executive summary
2. Key statistics
3. Telecommunications market
4. Regulatory environment
5. Fixed-network operators in Malta
6. Telecommunications infrastructure
7. Fixed voice market
8. Broadband market
9. Digital media
10. Mobile communications
11. Forecasts
For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/470cad20/malta_telecoms
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Laura Wood,
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