Malta rolls out terrestrial FTA

Malta has started to roll out a free-to-air digital terrestrial network in preparation of analogue switch-off in 2010. Until now, the country only pay-TV has been available over DTT.

The setting up of a so-called General Interest Objective (GIO) network is now in progress and should be completed by year’s end. The new FTA service will offer up to six channels replacing current analogue broadcasts.

It is estimated that 17% of Maltese households rely on analogue terrestrial broadcasts.

Malta already has an active pay-TV platform on DTT called GO, which offers about 50 channels to its 80,000 subscribers.