Research and Markets: Examine How the Privatisation of Maltacom Will Affect the Take-up of Digital TV & Broadband.

DUBLIN, Ireland -- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c47232) has announced the addition of 2006-2007 Europe - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband in Italy and Malta to their offering.

This report covers Italy and Malta, together representing one of the largest and most influential telecom markets in Europe, as well as one of the smallest yet technologically proficient. Trends and developments in telecommunications, mobile, Internet, broadband, digital TV and converging media including VoIP, VoD and IPTV developments.

Subjects include:

* Market and industry analyses, trends and developments;

* Facts, figures and statistics;

* Industry and regulatory issues;

* Research, Marketing, Benchmarking;

* Major Players, Revenues, Subscribers, Prepaid;

* VoIP, IPTV, VoD, digital TV and DTTV;

* Converging media.

The latest Italy and Malta Annual Publication, '2006/2007 Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband in Italy and Malta', profiles two contrasting telecom markets. Italy's large population is the furnace for one of Europe's more important telecoms services markets, and nurtures a sophisticated mobile, broadband and digital TV presence. The cable footprint remains relatively insignificant, while the nation's fibre sector continues to be an innovative leader, providing Italians with one of the fastest broadband infrastructures on the continent. This has helped to boost popular enthusiasm for triple play services, and will provide a strong foundation for IPTV, VoD and VoIP in 2007 and coming years.

Malta has Europe's smallest telecom market, but the country has close infrastructural ties to Italy, particularly in the mobile and broadband sectors. These were cemented further following the sale of the incumbent Maltacom in May 2006, since the new owners were required to invest over the next three years to increase data bandwidth between Malta and Italy, enter the digital TV market, launch interactive TV and enhance VoIP services. 2006 saw the launch of 3G services from Vodafone, though its monopoly will be lost in early 2007 as Maltacom's 3G network comes online. Malta was slow to liberalise certain market sectors, but effective management by the regulator has in recent years has lead to introduction of number portability as well as other important measures to develop competition in a market restricted by its size and the incumbent's dominance in the fixed-line sector.

This report presents a concise overview of sector liberalisation and privatisation in Italy and Malta, and the development of product offerings for both mobile and broadband as providers mould their strategies in markets expected to be more competitive during 2007. It also provides essential operator statistics highlighting sector development, assesses regulatory changes and their implications, and analyses the emergence of convergence and triple play services.

Key Highlights

The sale of Malta's incumbent operator in mid-2006 was conditional on a substantial three-year investment program which will have enormous implications for the development of broadband and digital TV in coming years.

Malta's 3G sector was among the last in Europe to be licensed. Vodafone launched services during 2006 and will face competition from Maltacom as its network progresses with the financial backing of its parent Tecom.

Italy's crowded mobile market is among the more competitive in Europe. Take-up of 3G has increased from 4% of mobile subscribers in 2004 to 19% by mid-2006, one of the highest proportions in Europe. Growth in 2007 is likely to be rapid in the wake of sophisticated mobile TV launches and the spread of advanced technologies such as HSDPA.

Italy is poorly served by cable, but the country has an enviable fibre network, with FASTWEB providing one of the most comprehensive footprints in Europe, expected to reach more than ten million homes in early 2007 as the effects of a [euro]3 billion network investment bear fruit.

Italy's triple play development is one of the strongest in Europe, gaining maturity in 2006 on the back of ADSL2+ and fibre roll-outs. FASTWEB continues to be a leader for fibre deployment in Italy, and an innovator for consumer services. Its popular REPLAYtv and joint partnership agreements with Sky Italia offers a new direction for Italian consumers to access broadband content, and may serve as a model for other operators in Europe in 2007. Telecom Italia's IPTV service Alice Home TV serviced more than 100 areas by the end of 2006, providing a considerable boost for content suppliers.

For those needing high level strategic information and objective analysis on this region, this 80+ page report is essential reading and gives further information on:

How the privatisation of Maltacom will affect take-up of digital TV and broadband.

How Telecom Italia's reasserted commitment to convergence will affect the company's strategy as a quad play provider.

The favourable technical and economic conditions for Local Loop Unbundling in Italy, valid until 2010, and how they provide a realistic chance for alternative operators to compete in the market.

How increasing demand for IPTV, VoD and other triple play services will further stimulate higher bandwidth connections in both Italy and Malta.

The impact which Malta's 3G operators will have in boosting the country's mobile penetration and opening up emerging mobile data services.

The changing face of converged media with widespread triple play services becoming a standard feature in homes.

Topics Covered

1. ITALY
2. MALTA
3. GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS

List of Exhibits and Tables

Companies Mentioned

* Telecom Italia

* Wind

* BT Italia

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c47232