Maltacom last week announced it intends to upgrade its payphone network, opting for a more efficient, customer-friendly system operating on modern chip-card technology and a pre-payment method.

In the first few months of the transition, Maltacom will be running both systems - new and old - in parallel, giving consumers ample time to use up the remaining credit on the telecards in circulation.

"We plan to phase out old payphones gradually and are aiming at a smooth, hassle-free process, causing as little bother as possible to the local consumer," the company said in a statement.

After the cut-off date, it will only be possible for users to buy the old type of card from retailers with remaining stocks - until these last. Members of the public can continue using old cards in the old-type payphone for a few more months - up to the very end of the programme.

"We appeal for the public's co-operation to use up all the credit on their telecards before the old-type payphones are removed completely from the local marketplace by later this year," Maltacom said.

In case of queries or problems during the transition to the new payphone card system, customers can visit the Maltacom Group portal www.maltacom.com or call Freecall 183 and Customer Helpline 2121-2121.