Lower mobile roaming tariffs result in higher traffic
The lowering of mobile roaming tariffs in UE countries last summer has left its mark as there was an increase of 20.5 per cent in the voice traffic originating from Maltese abroad and an increase of 23.2 per cent in the number of minute-calls made to...
The lowering of mobile roaming tariffs in UE countries last summer has left its mark as there was an increase of 20.5 per cent in the voice traffic originating from Maltese abroad and an increase of 23.2 per cent in the number of minute-calls made to Maltese who were abroad.
However, fixed-line telephony continues to be the most popular means of voice communication, although its use continued to fall at the expense of mobile communication.
This trend is revealed in the 11th edition of the electronic communications market review by the Malta Communications Authority (MCA). This report provides a general overview of the communication industry's performance for the six months ending September 30, 2007 and includes an analysis of the main trends and developments in the various sectors of the Maltese electronic communications market.
As with the previous reports, the most highly-used form of communication continued to be the public-switched telephone network (PSTN), albeit the volume of activity continued to decrease. Fixed line-originating minutes terminating on both local fixed lines and mobiles registered a decrease of almost 14.2 million minutes (5 per cent) when compared to the same period in 2006.
Meanwhile the fixed-line subscriber base has increased by 18,877, or 9.2 per cent, when compared to the third quarter of 2006. In the third quarter of 2007, 15.8 per cent of subscribers were business subscribers, 73.1 per cent were residential and the remaining 11.1 per cent were unclassified. As at the end of the current review period, a total of 1,471 fixed-line number portings had been registered, resulting in subscribers changing provider but retaining the same number.
By the end of last September the mobile subscriptions base grew by 24,027 over the comparable period a year before. The local mobile penetration rate thus stood at 90.6 per cent. Almost 35,000 subscribers (9.4 per cent) were on post-paid plans whereas the remaining 334,694 (90.6 per cent) were on pre-paid plans.
Meanwhile, during the six months covered by this review, mobile-originating traffic rose by almost 15.4 million minutes (15.6 per cent) relative to the same quarters a year before.
Perhaps the most significant increase was registered in roaming activity by Maltese mobile users in foreign countries. The MCA review revealed that voice traffic originated by Maltese mobile subscribers roaming abroad increased by almost 336,000 minutes, or 20.5 per cent, over the same period a year earlier. Voice traffic received by roamers, while roaming, increased by almost 213,000 minutes or 23.2 per cent when compared to the same period in 2006.
An increase in the use of SMS was also registered (28.1 million units or 12.8 per cent) over the same period the previous year. However, MMS traffic fell by 54,236 units, translating into 16.3 per cent.
The review also said the number of mobile number portings, i.e. subscribers changing provider but keeping their numbers, had reached the 19,685 mark by the end of September. International calls originating from Malta, but excluding roamer and visitor traffic, registered a decrease of just over 420.2 thousand minutes over the previous year, equivalent to 1.6 per cent.
The total number of digital and analogue TV subscribers at the end of September stood at 117,761, a yearly increase of 9,557 subscribers, equivalent to 8.8 per cent.
As at the end of September, internet subscriptions as reported by the NSO amounted to 99,947. This implies a ratio of subscriptions per 100 inhabitants 24.5. According to MCA data, there were 76,040 broadband subscribers. Implicitly, the remaining 23,907 subscribers had narrowband connections. Internet dial-up traffic minutes registered a drop of over 28.2 million minutes, equivalent to 59.2 per cent over the comparable period a year before. The ratio of DSL-to-cable subscriptions stood at 48:52 per cent.
A summary of the e-commerce survey commissioned by the MCA was also included in the market review. Interestingly, 47 per cent of the interviewees used the internet. The survey shows that 54 per cent of internet users had conducted an online transaction at some time or another in the past, and 78 per cent of these had never experienced any problems in doing so.
This electronic market review gives for the first time an analysis of the complaints received by the MCA. During the six-month period from April to September last year, apart from the day-to-day queries made by the general public and business firms, the authority received 90 complaints covering mainly all the sectors of the communications industry.
The largest proportion of complaints, 25 per cent, was related to internet use, 20 per cent to fixed-line telephony and 19 per cent to mobile telephony. The major issues raised were the quality of service, the quality of customer service, mobile base stations, and poor internet download speeds.
The relative majority of complaints, 40 per cent, were solved, the authority said. In 37 per cent of the cases more information was provided, while 23 per cent of the complaints were referred to other organisations.
"The queries raised by consumers indicate that, as the competitive market and convergence delivers more choice in terms of an expanding range of options and packages available for each service, consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of making informed choices. For this reason, the authority will be publishing detailed consumer guides providing information on how to select a service and/or service provider in the coming months," the market review concluded.
However, fixed-line telephony continues to be the most popular means of voice communication, although its use continued to fall at the expense of mobile communication.
This trend is revealed in the 11th edition of the electronic communications market review by the Malta Communications Authority (MCA). This report provides a general overview of the communication industry's performance for the six months ending September 30, 2007 and includes an analysis of the main trends and developments in the various sectors of the Maltese electronic communications market.
As with the previous reports, the most highly-used form of communication continued to be the public-switched telephone network (PSTN), albeit the volume of activity continued to decrease. Fixed line-originating minutes terminating on both local fixed lines and mobiles registered a decrease of almost 14.2 million minutes (5 per cent) when compared to the same period in 2006.
Meanwhile the fixed-line subscriber base has increased by 18,877, or 9.2 per cent, when compared to the third quarter of 2006. In the third quarter of 2007, 15.8 per cent of subscribers were business subscribers, 73.1 per cent were residential and the remaining 11.1 per cent were unclassified. As at the end of the current review period, a total of 1,471 fixed-line number portings had been registered, resulting in subscribers changing provider but retaining the same number.
By the end of last September the mobile subscriptions base grew by 24,027 over the comparable period a year before. The local mobile penetration rate thus stood at 90.6 per cent. Almost 35,000 subscribers (9.4 per cent) were on post-paid plans whereas the remaining 334,694 (90.6 per cent) were on pre-paid plans.
Meanwhile, during the six months covered by this review, mobile-originating traffic rose by almost 15.4 million minutes (15.6 per cent) relative to the same quarters a year before.
Perhaps the most significant increase was registered in roaming activity by Maltese mobile users in foreign countries. The MCA review revealed that voice traffic originated by Maltese mobile subscribers roaming abroad increased by almost 336,000 minutes, or 20.5 per cent, over the same period a year earlier. Voice traffic received by roamers, while roaming, increased by almost 213,000 minutes or 23.2 per cent when compared to the same period in 2006.
An increase in the use of SMS was also registered (28.1 million units or 12.8 per cent) over the same period the previous year. However, MMS traffic fell by 54,236 units, translating into 16.3 per cent.
The review also said the number of mobile number portings, i.e. subscribers changing provider but keeping their numbers, had reached the 19,685 mark by the end of September. International calls originating from Malta, but excluding roamer and visitor traffic, registered a decrease of just over 420.2 thousand minutes over the previous year, equivalent to 1.6 per cent.
The total number of digital and analogue TV subscribers at the end of September stood at 117,761, a yearly increase of 9,557 subscribers, equivalent to 8.8 per cent.
As at the end of September, internet subscriptions as reported by the NSO amounted to 99,947. This implies a ratio of subscriptions per 100 inhabitants 24.5. According to MCA data, there were 76,040 broadband subscribers. Implicitly, the remaining 23,907 subscribers had narrowband connections. Internet dial-up traffic minutes registered a drop of over 28.2 million minutes, equivalent to 59.2 per cent over the comparable period a year before. The ratio of DSL-to-cable subscriptions stood at 48:52 per cent.
A summary of the e-commerce survey commissioned by the MCA was also included in the market review. Interestingly, 47 per cent of the interviewees used the internet. The survey shows that 54 per cent of internet users had conducted an online transaction at some time or another in the past, and 78 per cent of these had never experienced any problems in doing so.
This electronic market review gives for the first time an analysis of the complaints received by the MCA. During the six-month period from April to September last year, apart from the day-to-day queries made by the general public and business firms, the authority received 90 complaints covering mainly all the sectors of the communications industry.
The largest proportion of complaints, 25 per cent, was related to internet use, 20 per cent to fixed-line telephony and 19 per cent to mobile telephony. The major issues raised were the quality of service, the quality of customer service, mobile base stations, and poor internet download speeds.
The relative majority of complaints, 40 per cent, were solved, the authority said. In 37 per cent of the cases more information was provided, while 23 per cent of the complaints were referred to other organisations.
"The queries raised by consumers indicate that, as the competitive market and convergence delivers more choice in terms of an expanding range of options and packages available for each service, consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of making informed choices. For this reason, the authority will be publishing detailed consumer guides providing information on how to select a service and/or service provider in the coming months," the market review concluded.