The Malta Communications Authority has launched a national consultation on the transposition into national law of an EU directive aimed at reducing the cost of deploying high-speed electronic communications networks.

This directive is aimed at helping and encouraging the rollout of such networks by reducing costs through the sharing of existing network infrastructures and increasing coordination.

The proliferation, on a national scale, of high-speed broadband networks is an objective of primary importance that is shared by the Maltese government and the EU in equal measure. The EU Commission has set two ambitious broadband targets to be achieved by 2020, namely: 30 megabits per second (Mbps) broadband speeds available to 100 per cent of households, and at least having 50 per cent of these households subscribing to speeds over 100Mbps.

“Malta has already reached the 30Mbps objective, however more needs to be done in order to reach the 100Mbps uptake target,” Parliamentary Secretary for Competitiveness and Economic Growth José Herrera said.

“Beyond the numbers, take-up of high speed broadband is felt to be a necessary target to accelerate the development of society and of the economy.”