Malta records highest broadband growth in EU

Malta is swiftly catching up with the most ICT-advanced countries in the EU, according to a European Commission report published in Brussels yesterday.

The report, which analysed the developments in broadband internet in the EU in the 12 months to last July, shows that Malta registered the highest growth with an increase of 6.7 broadband lines per 100 inhabitants - the EU's average increase stands at just 3.5 lines.

However, despite this massive increase, estimated to total 27,364 new lines in one year, or 75 new lines per day, Malta's broadband penetration rate is still marginally lower than the EU average. Until July, the rate stood at 20.5 per 100 inhabitants, while the EU's was 21.7 per cent.

The biggest increase in Maltese broadband lines happened in the non-DSL lines (cable) with an increase of 20,106 lines. Digital Subscriber Lines increased by a much lower rate, with just 7,261 new lines installed in the period covered by the report.

According to the Commission, the total number of broadband lines in Malta last July stood at 83,767.

Other figures published for the first time show that broadband based on mobile technologies, such as 3G and data services via data cards, seem to be taking off in Malta with a penetration rate of nine per cent.

Malta is among the most advanced member states in this area with just Denmark, Greece, Germany, Italy, Slovenia and Spain having higher mobile broadband penetration rates than the island.

Globally, Denmark and the Netherlands continue to be world leaders in broadband with penetration at over 35 per cent. They are followed by Finland and Sweden.

On the other hand, new EU entrant Bulgaria has the lowest penetration yet of just 9.5 per cent.