Maltese households keen on talking, surfing and watching
Maltese households are among the keenest users of communication services among households in EU countries, in almost all instances registering an above average interest. However, they are still a long way from getting anywhere near the leaders, which...
Maltese households are among the keenest users of communication services among households in EU countries, in almost all instances registering an above average interest. However, they are still a long way from getting anywhere near the leaders, which are the northern European countries, especially Scandinavian countries.
This emerges from the third EU-wide household survey by Eurobarometer published by the European Commission a few days ago. Around 27,000 households across the 27 EU member states were interviewed, with a Maltese sample of 500 units.
Almost all Maltese households have both fixed-line and mobile telephone access, and the figure is higher than that for the EU as a whole (99 per cent in Malta and 95 per cent in the EU27). Only three per cent have only mobile access, compared to 24 per cent in the EU27.
European users are increasingly switching from fixed to mobile phones. The proportion is significantly higher in the new member states (39 per cent) than in the EU15 (20 per cent), with the exception of Finland (61 per cent) and Portugal (48 per cent). In some member states this increase is accompanied by an increased use of wireless access to the internet via the mobile phone network or satellite (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria and Italy).
The overall picture of results for Maltese telephone access has remained more or less stable over the last year.
Over half of Maltese households have at least one computer. The figure is the same as for the EU as a whole (57 per cent), however, it is a far cry from the 90 per cent in The Netherlands or the 85 per cent in Denmark that top the list. A majority of Maltese households also have internet access (53 per cent, compared to 49 per cent in EU27). Here again, The Netherlands is at the forefront with 86 per cent. This is more likely to be in the form of broadband as opposed to narrowband - both in absolute terms and relative to the EU as a whole (45 per cent in Malta and 36 per cent in EU27 have broadband).
As in the EU as a whole, Maltese access to the internet is largely in the form of ADSL or a similar connection.
At the same time a fair proportion of Maltese have access via the cable TV network, being higher than the average figure for the EU27.
Most connected households access the internet via an ADSL line (59 per cent, an increase of four per cent compared to last year). The main reason quoted for not having access at home remains the lack of interest in internet (50 per cent of respondents).
Internet access, especially broadband, continues to expand across the EU. Broadband connections have registered an eight per cent increase over winter last year.
All the Maltese households participating in the survey have TV access, with the vast majority having access via the cable network. The proportion with cable access in Malta is over twice as high as that for all households in the EU with TV access (70 per cent in Malta, 34 per cent in EU27). In the EU, access via aerial is the most common method, but this is less common in Malta (41 per cent in EU27 and 17 per cent in Malta). Compared to the EU, households in Malta are less likely to have access using a satellite dish (22 per cent in EU27 compared 15 per cent in Malta).
It seems in Europe more households are receiving digital terrestrial television, in fact there was an increase of five per cent since winter last year, bringing the share to 12 per cent of EU 27 households. The share of households with analogue television reception via an aerial has fallen from 45 per cent to 41 per cent. One in 10 EU households receives television by more than one means (aerial, cable, satellite, internet). The figure is even higher in France (25 per cent of households), UK (22 per cent), Italy (19 per cent), Sweden (19 per cent), and Cyprus (16 per cent).
It seems 'bundling' in Malta is a recent phenomenon. At the beginning of 2006, no Maltese households purchased two or more communication services as part of a bundle. Currently it is still a low share of Maltese who have done this compared to the figures for the EU as a whole, but there has been a notable rise in the Maltese figures over last year. Twenty-nine per cent of European households buy two or more telecom and media products from a single service provider (an increase of nine per cent since winter last year), the combination of fixed telephony and internet access being the most common.
Indeed i-Tech has reported about the introduction of bundling of services in Malta in late 2006, when the local communications companies started diversifying their core business. Since then Go has launched a digital terrestrial TV service, Melita last launched fixed-line telephony and is set to roll out its mobile network soon, while Vodafone launched its wireless internet access service, just to give a few examples.
Overall, the EU-wide survey of households has revealed the emergence of new consumption patterns in telecom services in Europe, the European Commission remarked.
In a nutshell, technological progress and competition have brought more choice to European consumers; 24 per cent of households have given up their fixed telephone in favour of mobile phones while 22 per cent of them are using their computer from home to make phone calls over the internet.
In an increasing number of member states, European households are using wireless access to connect to the internet, via mobile or satellite networks.
Meanwhile, 29 per cent of European households buy bundled telecoms and media packages, an increase of nearly 10 per cent over last year.
Nevertheless, the top priority for consumers in this fast evolving environment remains the quality of services, the survey noted.
This emerges from the third EU-wide household survey by Eurobarometer published by the European Commission a few days ago. Around 27,000 households across the 27 EU member states were interviewed, with a Maltese sample of 500 units.
Almost all Maltese households have both fixed-line and mobile telephone access, and the figure is higher than that for the EU as a whole (99 per cent in Malta and 95 per cent in the EU27). Only three per cent have only mobile access, compared to 24 per cent in the EU27.
European users are increasingly switching from fixed to mobile phones. The proportion is significantly higher in the new member states (39 per cent) than in the EU15 (20 per cent), with the exception of Finland (61 per cent) and Portugal (48 per cent). In some member states this increase is accompanied by an increased use of wireless access to the internet via the mobile phone network or satellite (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria and Italy).
The overall picture of results for Maltese telephone access has remained more or less stable over the last year.
Over half of Maltese households have at least one computer. The figure is the same as for the EU as a whole (57 per cent), however, it is a far cry from the 90 per cent in The Netherlands or the 85 per cent in Denmark that top the list. A majority of Maltese households also have internet access (53 per cent, compared to 49 per cent in EU27). Here again, The Netherlands is at the forefront with 86 per cent. This is more likely to be in the form of broadband as opposed to narrowband - both in absolute terms and relative to the EU as a whole (45 per cent in Malta and 36 per cent in EU27 have broadband).
As in the EU as a whole, Maltese access to the internet is largely in the form of ADSL or a similar connection.
At the same time a fair proportion of Maltese have access via the cable TV network, being higher than the average figure for the EU27.
Most connected households access the internet via an ADSL line (59 per cent, an increase of four per cent compared to last year). The main reason quoted for not having access at home remains the lack of interest in internet (50 per cent of respondents).
Internet access, especially broadband, continues to expand across the EU. Broadband connections have registered an eight per cent increase over winter last year.
All the Maltese households participating in the survey have TV access, with the vast majority having access via the cable network. The proportion with cable access in Malta is over twice as high as that for all households in the EU with TV access (70 per cent in Malta, 34 per cent in EU27). In the EU, access via aerial is the most common method, but this is less common in Malta (41 per cent in EU27 and 17 per cent in Malta). Compared to the EU, households in Malta are less likely to have access using a satellite dish (22 per cent in EU27 compared 15 per cent in Malta).
It seems in Europe more households are receiving digital terrestrial television, in fact there was an increase of five per cent since winter last year, bringing the share to 12 per cent of EU 27 households. The share of households with analogue television reception via an aerial has fallen from 45 per cent to 41 per cent. One in 10 EU households receives television by more than one means (aerial, cable, satellite, internet). The figure is even higher in France (25 per cent of households), UK (22 per cent), Italy (19 per cent), Sweden (19 per cent), and Cyprus (16 per cent).
It seems 'bundling' in Malta is a recent phenomenon. At the beginning of 2006, no Maltese households purchased two or more communication services as part of a bundle. Currently it is still a low share of Maltese who have done this compared to the figures for the EU as a whole, but there has been a notable rise in the Maltese figures over last year. Twenty-nine per cent of European households buy two or more telecom and media products from a single service provider (an increase of nine per cent since winter last year), the combination of fixed telephony and internet access being the most common.
Indeed i-Tech has reported about the introduction of bundling of services in Malta in late 2006, when the local communications companies started diversifying their core business. Since then Go has launched a digital terrestrial TV service, Melita last launched fixed-line telephony and is set to roll out its mobile network soon, while Vodafone launched its wireless internet access service, just to give a few examples.
Overall, the EU-wide survey of households has revealed the emergence of new consumption patterns in telecom services in Europe, the European Commission remarked.
In a nutshell, technological progress and competition have brought more choice to European consumers; 24 per cent of households have given up their fixed telephone in favour of mobile phones while 22 per cent of them are using their computer from home to make phone calls over the internet.
In an increasing number of member states, European households are using wireless access to connect to the internet, via mobile or satellite networks.
Meanwhile, 29 per cent of European households buy bundled telecoms and media packages, an increase of nearly 10 per cent over last year.
Nevertheless, the top priority for consumers in this fast evolving environment remains the quality of services, the survey noted.