The Malta Communications Authority annual report for 2009 launched last week identified Melita Mobile as the key driving force behind the downward trend in mobile tariffs on the local market.

Average mobile phone call rates fell by over 30 per cent last year compared with 2008.

According to the regulator, since the launch of Melita Mobile, the average domestic call rate went down by 6c, from 18c at the end of 2008 to 12c by the end of 2009.

The report said: “Malta’s price per minute for mobile communications was reported as having declined by €0.03, from €0.27 in 2007 to €0.24 in 2008.

“This decline resulted prior to the launch of Melita Mobile, as this operator started offering its services in February 2009.

“It is therefore likely that Malta’s price per minute of mobile communications declined by a faster rate in 2009 as competition intensified even further.

“MCA preliminary workings suggest that, by the end of 2009, Malta’s price per minute of mobile communications hovered around €0.12.”