The increase in VOIP use also meant that families who had previously not communicated with their relatives abroad are now making good use of this service. It is also clear that mobile phones are no longer considered as a luxury; the fact that a 7.7 per cent increase had been registered in this sector meant that this form of communication has become a necessity.

Mr Galea said that the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector has helped modernise the country. The launch of a consultative document on digital broadcasting, third generation telephony and fixed wireless access all form part of a technological revolution that will come about in the future.