Melita has said that recent statistics published by the Malta Communications Authority confirm that Melita’s cable internet is the fastest growing internet service in the Maltese Islands. The added that the MCA’s latest communications market review for the period January to June 2008, has also placed Melita as the no.1 internet provider in Malta.

The company said that during the second quarter of this year, almost all new broadband subscribers opted for a cable internet connection as opposed to a telephone-based internet service or WiMAX. Melita’s broadband cable internet products now hold 52% market share (51.86%) while the combined total of ADSL internet service providers serve the remaining 46% of this market. At the end of June 2008, from a total of 93,405 broadband subscriptions, 48,437 broadband users subscribed to Melita’s cable internet service while the next largest service provider, GO, served 33,732 clients with their telephone-based internet service.

“The MCA statistics have once more confirmed Melita as the no.1 broadband internet provider in Malta. We thank our customers for trusting Melita and for choosing us as their no.1 internet provider,” said Melita’s Chief Operations Officer, Mr. Stephen Wright.

“The MCA market review clearly shows that customers are increasingly choosing cable broadband internet as their preferred internet connection, as opposed to a telephone-based internet. Cable internet is offering higher speeds and more reliability and these results have clearly shown that our cable internet service has been the driving force behind growth in the local broadband market” explained Mr. Wright.

Melita advise that they currently offer the fastest internet experience, with speeds of up to 30Mbits per second.

“Today, customers are more aware of the importance of having reliable and fast internet connections. The demand for higher internet speeds continues to be driven by convergence in technology, and the more our customers satisfy their requirements over the internet, the faster the speed they require. Only cable internet can guarantee the fastest speed to match today’s lifestyles. Internet over telephone lines (ADSL) can not, under present circumstances, satisfy the entire ever-growing demand for internet speed,” said Ing. Nigel Curmi, Melita’s Head of Information Technology.

Melita has recently announced a €10m investment in a new state-of-the-art 100km submarine cable, linking Malta to the rest of the world. The first phase of the project has been completed and Melita is currently awaiting the necessary permits from the Maltese and Sicilian authorities to lay the cable on the seabed. “The project is within its scheduled timeframes and we expect to commission our state-of-the-art submarine fibre optic cable in 2009. This cable will provide increased capacity for international connectivity, improved redundancy and reliability, a superior performance and enhanced quality of service for Melita customers. It will also provide added opportunities for growth in wholesale and corporate internet business besides providing more international connectivity for the Maltese Islands,” said Mr. Simon Montanaro, Melita’s Head of Networks.

Melita say that they remain committed to offer the fastest and most affordable internet experience in the Maltese Islands. For more information on Melita’s services, customers can call on 27 270 270 or log on www.melita.com.