Registrations for the Blueskies Scheme of broadband subsidy will open on Saturday, 26 January at Merchants Street, Valletta.

Under the scheme, the Investment, Industry and Information Technology Ministry will be subsidising the first time broadband in Maltese households getting the service at €3 (Lm 1.29) per month. Families having members with disability will get the broadband service for free.

To qualify for the scheme, the person must reside in a household where no broadband service is installed or was operating after 1 December, 2007. Households which are currently served with a dial-up connection may still apply. Each household may only benefit from one broadband service.

Registrations will be received at Merchants Street, Valletta, on Saturday, 26 January between 9am and 1pm; while in Gozo registrations will be received on the next day, Sunday, 27 January, at the Gozo Ministry in St Francis Square, Victoria. Individuals need to present their ID card in order to register.

The total number of registrations that can be accepted is limited and applications will be treated on a first come first served basis. Applications will be verified by internet service providers to ensure that only eligible applications are accepted.

After the completion of the necessary verifications eligible applicants will receive a voucher by mail.

Further information about the scheme is obtainable on telephone 2557 3111 during office hours Monday to Friday.