Malta’s digital communications landscape continues to evolve rapidly, with strong growth recorded across mobile telephony, broadband, and television services — while traditional fixed-line and postal services face ongoing decline.

The latest Malta Communication Authority figures released for the end of 2024 reveal that mobile telephony remains the most widely adopted electronic communications service, boasting a penetration rate of 133.4%, up slightly from 133.0% in 2023. The total mobile subscription base climbed to 766,620, marking a 2.3% year-on-year increase.

A key milestone was achieved in the first quarter of 2024, when post-paid mobile subscriptions overtook pre-paid ones for the first time since data collection began. This shift reflects changing consumer preferences as more users prioritise larger mobile data allowances and bundled service offerings over pay-as-you-go voice services.

As consumers rely increasingly on mobile networks for data-intensive applications, the demand for robust, high-value post-paid plans continues to rise, the a MCA noted.

This migration also contributed to a significant increase in mobile traffic volumes, reinforcing the central role of mobile networks in data communications, not just voice. On the other hand, inward mobile number portings declined by 7.9%, indicating a stabilising competitive landscape in mobile services, where consumers are seemingly more settled with their service providers.

Fibre push propels broadband and iptv uptake

The fixed broadband market saw solid growth, with subscriptions increasing by 1.8% year-on-year. Central to this growth has been the ongoing rollout of fibre-to-the-home (FTTH), which is replacing copper-based infrastructure at pace.

Leading this transformation is GO, whose aggressive investment in fibre led to a 75.2% drop in copper-based subscriptions. GO now holds 91.1% of the FTTH market and is on track to reach 100% fibre coverage by the end of 2025. Epic, with a 7.9% share, continues to expand its footprint, while Melita, the most recent entrant to the FTTH race, is still building its presence after beginning deployments in late 2023.

These efforts contributed to a remarkable 41.5% year-on-year increase in FTTH subscriptions, enabling wider access to gigabit-level broadband and supporting the needs of households and businesses for ultra-fast, reliable connectivity.

The impact of improved broadband infrastructure is also evident in the television segment, which grew by 2.4% year-on-year. IPTV services, delivered via enhanced broadband, have become a cornerstone of operator strategies, offering consumers flexible content options and multi-device accessibility.

Fixed telephony and postal services continue to decline

In contrast to the digital upswing, fixed telephony services continued their downward trajectory, with a 1.8% decline in subscriptions year-on-year. The number of fixed-line calls and portings dropped by 31.4%, underscoring the waning relevance of landlines in an increasingly mobile-first world.

Nevertheless, the business sector remains a steady user base, with some telecom operators launching enhanced fixed-line solutions tailored for enterprise needs, focusing on reliability, integration with digital systems, and added functionality.

Meanwhile, the postal sector also faced challenges. Mail volumes declined by 3.8%, affecting all categories of universal service mail. The most notable fall — a 15.6% drop — was in the single-piece letter mail category, reflecting the ongoing transition to digital correspondence.

However, one bright spot was inbound cross-border parcels, which grew by 30.7%, driven by the relentless rise in e-commerce activity. This signals a shifting role for postal operators, who are increasingly repositioning themselves as critical enablers of the digital economy through parcel logistics.