As at the end of December, subscriptions to all forms of communication technology registered an increase when compared to the corresponding period in 2009.

Internet, analogue and digital subscriptions

During the last quarter of 2010, the internet subscription index rose by 7.2 per cent when compared to the corresponding period in 2009.

As at the end of quarter 4, there were no active narrowband (dial-up) internet subscriptions recorded, which implies that dial-up internet has become obsolete in Malta. On the other hand, broadband subscriptions increased by 7.9 per cent to stand at 119,552. Nearly all broadband subscribers had a connection speed of at least 2 Mbps.

The television subscription index also rose by 3.2 per cent when compared to the corresponding period of 2009. There was a drop of 54.3 per cent in the number of analogue subscriptions, which was counteracted by an increase of 18.3 per cent in the number of digital subscriptions. The latter accounted for 90.7 per cent of overall subscriptions.

Telecommunications

Year-on-year, the number of fixed-telephone subscriptions registered edged up by 0.6 per cent, or 1,505 subscriptions. The total fixed originating minutes to national networks dropped by 4.6 per cent, while the number of minutes directed towards an international network amounted to 13.8 million.

As at the end of 2010, the absolute number of mobile telephone subscriptions stood at 455,579, an increase of 7.9 per cent when compared to the previous year. The mobile penetration rate per 100 persons in the population amounted to 110.2 per cent, implying that a considerable number of mobile subscribers in Malta and Gozo have more than one account .

Subscriptions

to post-paid schemes amounted to 89,245 while subscriptions to pre-paid schemes stood at 366,334.

When compared to the corresponding period in 2009, increases were recorded in local originating mobile traffic and outbound and inbound roaming activities. On the other hand, drops were recorded in outgoing MMS traffic.

Post and couriers

Table 6 focuses on different types of national postal traffic. Postal traffic for the fourth quarter last year amounted to around 12.2 million items, a decrease of 4.8 per cent when compared to the corresponding period in 2009. Total parcels and other items were recorded at 19,482, a decrease of 24.1 per cent over 2009.

Items received and dispatched by couriers totalled 126,540 – up by 16.7 per cent when compared to the corresponding quarter in 2009.

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