The Digital Agenda Scoreboard keeps track of the progress of the digital economy of Europe. In the latest report that analysed the year 2014, Malta was again ranked Number 1 with regards to broadband coverage. The country also went up two ranks and is now on the ninth place for connectivity, which is an important factor that measures the availability of broadband and the quality. All households in Malta can have a broadband connection with at least 30 Mbps.
With this performance, Malta is above the EU average. The coverage in Malta is 100%, whereas the EU average is currently 97%. Malta has also made progress with the subscriptions for high-speed broadband, and the number of households with a broadband connection speed of at least 30 Mbits reached 55% in 2014, an increase of 41% compared to the last year. The figure in 2012 only stood at 2%.
4G mobile phone Internet technology was launched in 2013 in Malta and covers now over two thirds of the island. It is expected to increase even further until the end of this year. The EU average is 79%.
The two main providers for Internet and telephony are GO and Melita. GO has recently launched a 500 Mbits plan for broadband enthusiasts and power users. Over 17,000 households in St. Julians, Sliema and Lija are currently able to make use of this offer. This figure is expected to be increased to 33,000 until the end of the year.
I would also like to mention that the prices for a broadband connection in Malta are very reasonable. The 30 Mbits Internet and telephony plan costs €19.99 per month with a 2 year contract with Melita. GO offers bundles with digital TV channels starting from €25 per month for the first three months, and €48 afterwards. Depending on your needs, it is best to compare both operators, as Melita also offers TV packages. Both operators also offer mobile phone plans, but there is also Vodafone who offers mobile phone services in Malta. The services are surely not only interesting for private households, but also for companies in Malta.
