Mobile News

Malta has the highest mobile growth rate in Europe–167% in 2000–although this is most likely as a result of its relatively low penetration (27% at end-2000). Etalk, the prepaid service of Vodafone Malta–until recently the sole operator, had 95,000 prepaid users at the end of March 2001, 88% of its base.

Competition has recently come to the market in the form of go mobile, 80% owned by Maltacom. It launched in December 2000 and made an impressive start with over 20,000 subscribers in its first month of operation. It launched its prepaid service shortly afterwards.

Vodafone Malta’s prepaid services include VAS such as voicemail, outgoing data and fax, SMS, call barring and international calling. WAP over prepaid has also been launched. With prepaid penetration at just 25%, overall penetration still low at 35%, plus the new competition from gomobile, there is scope for the future growth of prepaid in Malta.