Malta Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Publication Date: December 2023

Report Pages: 165

Analyst: Henry Lancaster

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Summary
Table Of Contents

Malta preps for subsea cable connection to France

Malta’s small telecom sector is among the most advanced in Europe. This has been helped by the topography, which has made it relatively easy for operators to expand the reach of their fibre infrastructure. With high mobile and broadband penetration rates, the government and regulator have effective strategies in place to capitalise on these infrastructure developments to ensure that the population has among the fastest data rates in Europe, and so is well positioned to take advantage of emerging e-commerce opportunities.

The sector has also been stimulated by regulatory measures designed to reduce consumer prices. Melita having been sold to EQT in late 2019 and Vodafone Malta having been sold to Monaco Telecom, and rebranded as Epic. The incumbent telco GO is investing in a subsea cable to connect the islands to France and Egypt. Expected to be ready for service in 2022, the cable will further enhance Malta’s internet bandwidth and lead to reduced prices for end-users.

There has also been some encouragement to increase market competition. This led to the VULA agreement between GO and Epic Malta, by which Epic was able to enter the fixed broadband market using GO’s fibre infrastructure. In April 2021 Epic began offering FttP services directly, over its own fibre network

Melita provides a national gigabit service via its fibre and DOCSIS3.1 networks, while GO’s extensive FttP network covered about 150,000 premises by early 2021. The company is investing €100 million to develop LTE and fibre through to 2023.

Key developments:

Vodafone Malta rebrands as Epic Malta, begins rolling out its own FttP infrastructure, contracts Ericsson as sole 5G vendor;
Monaco Telecom sells its tower portfolio in Malta to Phoenix Tower International (PTI);
Melita launches 5G-ready network, completes project to deliver fibre networks to public schools, provides a 1Gb/s broadband service nationally;
GO commits to €100 million five-year investment in fibre infrastructure, invests €24 million in submarine cable system linking to Marseille and Egypt;
Regulator assesses interest in 3.5Gz spectrum for 5G services;
Government supporting a national FttP network;
Report update includes the regulator's market data updates to December 2021, telcos' operating data to Q4 2021, updated Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, recent market developments.

Companies mentioned in this report:

Epic Malta (Vodafone Malta), GO, Melita, SIS, Ozone, Redtouch Fone, PING, Monaco Telecom, Divitel

Key statistics
Regional Europe Market Comparison

Market characteristics
Market Leaders
Market Challengers
Market Emergents
TMI versus GDP
Mobile and mobile broadband penetration
Fixed versus mobile broadband penetration

Country overview
Telecommunications market
Regulatory environment

Historical overview
Regulatory authority
Fixed-line developments

Digital Society initiatives
Telecom sector liberalisation
Privatisation
Interconnect
Access
Carrier PreSelection (CPS)
Number Portability (NP)
European Electronic Communications Code
Universal Service Obligations (USO)

Mobile network developments

Roaming
Mobile Termination Rate (MTR)
Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
Spectrum regulations and spectrum auctions

Mobile market

Market analysis
Mobile statistics
Mobile infrastructure

5G
4G (LTE)
3G

Other infrastructure developments

NB-IoT

Mobile data

Short Message Service (SMS)
Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)

Mobile broadband
Major mobile operators

Epic Malta
GO Mobile
Melita Mobile

MVNOs

Fixed-line broadband market

Introduction and statistical overview
Broadband statistics
Fixed-line broadband technologies

Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) networks
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks
Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks

Other fixed broadband services

Satellite
Wireless broadband

Fixed network operators

GO
Melita
EPIC

Telecommunications infrastructure

Overview of the national telecom network
International infrastructure
VoIP
Wholesale

Data centres
Appendix – Historic data
Glossary of abbreviations
Related reports

List of Tables

Table 1 – Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities - Malta – 2022 (e)
Table 2 – Change in the number of fixed numbers ported – 2012 – 2021
Table 3 – Growth in roaming voice and data traffic (outbound) – 2012 – 2021
Table 4 – Change in the number of mobile number portings – 2012 – 2021
Table 5 – Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Table 6 – Change in mobile market share of subscribers by operator – 2012 – 2021
Table 7 – Growth in mobile voice traffic – 2012 – 2021
Table 8 – Change in the proportion of contract and prepaid subscribers, all operators – 2012 – 2021
Table 9 – Change in the number of contract and prepaid subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Table 10 – Change in blended mobile ARPU – 2012 – 2021
Table 11 – Decline in the volume of SMS messages sent – 2012 – 2021
Table 12 – Change in the number of MMS messages sent – 2012 – 2021
Table 13 – Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Table 14 – Growth in mobile data traffic – 2015 – 2021
Table 15 – Change in the number of Epic Malta’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Table 16 – Growth in the number of GO Mobile’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Table 17 – Growth in the number of Melita Mobile’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Table 18 – MVNO subscribers by operators – 2012 – 2020
Table 19 – Change in the number of fixed broadband subscriptions by platform – 2012 – 2021
Table 20 – Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Table 21 – Change in the proportion of broadband connections by data rate – 2012 – 2021
Table 22 – Change in the number of broadband connections by data rate – 2012 – 2021
Table 23 – Change in the number of high speed broadband connections by data rate – 2012 – 2021
Table 24 – Development of fixed broadband market share by operator – 2012 – 2021
Table 25 – Development of fixed broadband ARPU – 2012 – 2021
Table 26 – Growth in the number of Melita’s cable broadband subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Table 27 – Change in the number of DSL subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Table 28 – Increase in the number of fibre broadband subscribers – 2015 – 2021
Table 29 – Increase in the number of fibre broadband subscribers by operator – 2015 – 2021
Table 30 – Increase in the number of fixed wireless subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Table 31 – Fixed wireless share of the fixed broadband market – 2012 – 2021
Table 32 – Development of fixed-line subscriber market share by operator – 2012 – 2021
Table 33 – Development of fixed-line subscriber by operator – 2012 – 2021
Table 34 – Decline in the volume of outgoing fixed-line calls and traffic – 2012 – 2021
Table 35 – Development of GO Group’s financial data (€ million) – 2012 – 2021
Table 36 – Change in the number of GO fixed line subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Table 37 – Change in the number of Melita fixed line subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Table 38 – Change in the number of Epic fixed line subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Table 39 – Change in in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2012 – 2027
Table 40 – Increase in international internet bandwidth – 2012 – 2017
Table 41 – Historic - Telecom sector revenue (€ million) – 2009 – 2016
Table 42 – Historic - Proportion of contract and prepaid subscribers, all operators – 2005 – 2011
Table 43 – Historic - Mobile voice traffic – 2005 – 2011
Table 44 – Historic - SMS messages sent – 2005 – 2011
Table 45 – Historic - Average cost of SMS messages (€) – 2011 – 2016
Table 46 – Historic - MMS messages sent – 2006 – 2011
Table 47 – Historic - Mobile termination rates by operator (€ cents) – 2005 – 2012
Table 48 – Historic - Prepaid and contract subscribers, all operators – 2005 – 2011
Table 49 – Historic - Mobile broadband subscribers by type – 2012 – 2016
Table 50 – Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 1998 – 2011
Table 51 – Historic - Dialup internet subscribers – 2005 – 2010
Table 52 – Historic - Broadband subscriptions by platform – 2002 – 2011
Table 53 – Historic - Internet users and penetration – 2002 – 2015
Table 54 – Historic - Broadband subscribers and penetration – 2000 – 2011
Table 55 – Historic - GO financial data (Lm million) – 2004 – 2007
Table 56 – Historic - Fixed lines in service and penetration rate – 2001 – 2011
Table 57 – Historic - Change in the number of fixed numbers ported – 2007 – 2011
Table 58 – Historic - Change in the number of mobile numbers portings – 2006 – 2011
Table 59 – Historic - Change in mobile market share of subscribers by operator – 2007 – 2011
Table 60 – Historic - Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2009 – 2011
Table 61 – Historic - Change in the number of Vodafone Malta’s mobile subscribers – 2005 – 2011
Table 62 – Historic - Development of fixed broadband market share by operator – 2007 – 2011
Table 63 – Historic - Increase in the number of fixed wireless subscribers – 2007 – 2011
Table 64 – Historic - Fixed wireless share of the fixed broadband market – 2007 – 2011
Table 65 – Historic - Development of fixed-line subscriber market share by operator – 2007 – 2011
Table 66 – Historic - Decline in the volume of outgoing fixed-line calls and traffic – 2008 – 2011
Table 67 – Historic - Development of GO Group’s financial data (€ million) – 2007 – 2011
Table 68 – Historic - Increase in international internet bandwidth – 2007 – 2011
Table 69 – Historic - Growth in roaming voice (outbound) – 2009 – 2011
Table 70 – Historic - Change in blended mobile ARPU – 2009 – 2011
Table 71 – Historic - Growth in the number of GO Mobile’s mobile subscribers – 2009 – 2011
Table 72 – Historic - Growth in the number of Melita Mobile’s mobile subscribers – 2009 – 2011
Table 73 – Historic - Development of fixed broadband ARPU – 2009 – 2011
Table 74 – Historic - Growth in the number of Melita’s cable broadband subscribers – 2009 – 2011
Table 75 – Historic - Change in the number of DSL subscribers – 2009 – 2011

List of Charts

Chart 1 – Europe Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Leaders
Chart 2 – Europe Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Challengers
Chart 3 – Europe Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Emergents
Chart 4 – Europe - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per capita
Chart 5 – Europe – Mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 6 – Scandinavia/Baltics fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 7 – Northern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 8 – Eastern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 9 – Southern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 10 – Change in the number of fixed numbers ported – 2012 – 2021
Chart 11 – Growth in roaming voice and data traffic (outbound) – 2012 – 2021
Chart 12 – Change in the number of mobile number portings – 2012 – 2021
Chart 13 – Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Chart 14 – Change in mobile market share of subscribers by operator – 2012 – 2021
Chart 15 – Growth in mobile voice traffic – 2012 – 2021
Chart 16 – Change in the proportion of contract and prepaid subscribers, all operators – 2012 – 2021
Chart 17 – Change in the number of contract and prepaid subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Chart 18 – Change in blended mobile ARPU – 2012 – 2021
Chart 19 – Decline in the volume of SMS messages sent – 2012 – 2021
Chart 20 – Change in the number of MMS messages sent – 2012 – 2021
Chart 21 – Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Chart 22 – Growth in mobile data traffic – 2015 – 2021
Chart 23 – Change in the number of Epic Malta’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Chart 24 – Growth in the number of GO Mobile’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Chart 25 – Growth in the number of Melita Mobile’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Chart 26 – Change in the number of fixed broadband subscriptions by platform – 2012 – 2021
Chart 27 – Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Chart 28 – Change in the proportion of broadband connections by data rate – 2012 – 2021
Chart 29 – Change in the number of broadband connections by data rate – 2012 – 2021
Chart 30 – Change in the number of high speed broadband connections by data rate – 2012 – 2021
Chart 31 – Development of fixed broadband market share by operator – 2012 – 2021
Chart 32 – Development of fixed broadband ARPU – 2012 – 2021
Chart 33 – Growth in the number of Melita’s cable broadband subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Chart 34 – Change in the number of DSL subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Chart 35 – Increase in the number of fibre broadband subscribers – 2015 – 2021
Chart 36 – Increase in the number of fibre broadband subscribers by operator – 2015 – 2021
Chart 37 – Increase in the number of fixed wireless subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Chart 38 – Fixed wireless share of the fixed broadband market – 2012 – 2021
Chart 39 – Development of fixed-line subscriber market share by operator – 2012 – 2021
Chart 40 – Development of fixed-line subscriber by operator – 2012 – 2021
Chart 41 – Decline in the volume of outgoing fixed-line calls and traffic – 2012 – 2021
Chart 42 – Development of GO Group’s financial data – 2012 – 2021
Chart 43 – Change in the number of GO fixed line subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Chart 44 – Change in the number of Malita fixed line subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Chart 45 – Change in the number of Epic fixed line subscribers – 2012 – 2021
Chart 46 – Change in in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2012 – 2027

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1 – Map of Telecom Maturity Index global ranking among countries in Europe
Exhibit 2 – Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 3 – Europe – Market Leaders and market developments
Exhibit 4 – Europe – Market Challengers and market developments
Exhibit 5 – Europe – Market Emergents and market developments
Exhibit 6 – Mobile operators and spectrum allocation range
Exhibit 7 – 800MHz spectrum assignments – April 2018
Exhibit 8 – 3G licence allocations – 2005; 2007

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Malta Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Purchase this Report

Malta preps for subsea cable connection to France

Key developments:

Companies mentioned in this report:

Key statistics

Regional Europe Market Comparison

Country overview

Telecommunications market

Regulatory environment

Mobile market

Fixed-line broadband market

Fixed network operators

Telecommunications infrastructure

Data centres

Appendix – Historic data

Glossary of abbreviations

Related reports

Purchase this Report

Share this Report

TMT Intelligence

A platform to scale your intelligence tasks

Research Methodology

Hot Topics

News & Views