Forget the frequent Facebook rants about some mobile telephony company’s poor service – according to a recent survey, 88 per cent of customers are “satisfied” or “highly satisfied” with the level of service provided.

According to a survey commissioned by the Malta Communications Authority (MCA), tariff rates continue to be the main driving force for mobile subscribers to switch operators, with 43 per cent of subscribers claiming they would switch operators should their current operator increase tariffs.

In effect, 18 per cent switched operators over a two-year period with 88 per cent claiming this process to be relatively easy.

Of most significance, the MCA noted, was the exceptional growth in internet access via mobile technology.

The number of mobile subscribers owning a smart phone allowing them internet access more than doubled from 16 per cent in 2011 to 37 per cent in 2013.

Subscriptions to mobile data plans are also on the increase, with 48 per cent of those subscribers with a smart phone subscribing to a mobile data plan, compared to 26 per cent in 2011.

Sixty-four per cent of those subscribers using their smart phone to access the internet do so on a daily basis – mainly to check e-mails and for social networking. Nine per cent of all mobile subscribers have more than one connection, which, together with the penetration of business mobile users, explains such a high mobile penetration rate in Malta which currently stands at 135 per cent.

Despite the significant increases in mobile telephony usage, fixed telephony still remained an essential service. Even though 72 per of households considered the mobile phone to be a good substitute, only three per cent of households considered terminating their fixed line connection.

The survey also showed that 80 per cent of households have internet access compared to the 68 per cent of households having internet access in 2011.

Contrary to popular perception, the MCA noted, only one per cent of households cited affordability as the reason for not getting an internet connection.

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