12 - 18 October 2000

Melita Cable considers move into fixed-line telephony

by Franco Aloisio

Melita Cable is actively studying the possibility of entering into the market of fixed-line telephony and launching its own telephone service by 1 January 2003, the company’s head of marketing Simon Mizzi has said.
Mr Mizzi told The Malta Business Weekly that Melita Cable is seriously considering exercising its right to benefit from its license, which allows it to enter into the fixed-line telephony market within two years time. Melita Cable would use its present-day cable network and could provide a telephone
service by means of a Voice over Internet Protocol system.
At present, the company is already in a position to offer broadband internet over its cable lines. However, the latest developments regarding the legal wrangle between Maltacom and Melita Cable on the use of Maltacom’s ducts, is further delaying the launch of Melita’s own internet over cable service. Mr Mizzi said the company was planning to launch and sell its new internet service in the IT&T Fair, which opened yesterday.
Asked whether Maltacom’s plans to move into TV transmission constitute a threat to Melita Cable, Mr Mizzi said: “Melita Cable welcomes the liberalisation process within the telecommunications
sector.”
The last issue of The Malta Independent on Sunday revealed Maltacom’s plans to move into TV
transmission. Maltacom is planning to set up new subsidiary companies to handle this new line of business.
Melita Cable’s head of marketing said the company does not enjoy a total monopoly in TV transmission, as hundreds of channels are already available via satellite and terrestrial transmissions. Melita Cable always had to compete to further penetrate the market, he said.
Mr Mizzi said Melita Cable did not exclude moving into mobile telephony. However, the new Telecommunications Act allows for a third mobile phone operator to obtain a license in November 2003.