Most unhappy at how Phonemail was introduced

An overwhelming 76 per cent of people surveyed said Maltacom`s Phonemail service should have been offered to telephone subscribers at their request, and not introduced arbitrarily nationwide.

The survey was commissioned by the Malta Communications Authority (MCA), the regulatory body, to gauge public opinion on the controversial service launched by Maltacom recently.

The survey also shows that nearly half of the respondents, 47 per cent, have had the service discontinued from their residential lines.

Last week, the MCA commissioned Prof. Mario Vassallo to conduct an independent survey to test public reaction on the manner in which Phonemail was introduced.

The MCA said the plan to carry out the survey was agreed in principle last month during a meeting called by the MCA with senior Maltacom officials.

It was originally due to be conducted by Maltacom itself in June. However, in view of the recent controversy, the MCA had decided to bring the survey forward.

The MCA said the survey also served as an eye-opener for regulatory bodies, because 77 per cent of respondents were unable to correctly answer the question, "Do you know what a regulator is?"

In fact, the MCA, which came into being in January, 2001, is the national agency responsible for regulating telecommunications and e-commerce. Once the Postal Services Act is enacted, the MCA will also become the competent authority for regulating postal services.

The random telephone survey, carried out between May 13 and May 16, polled 500 respondents. The full survey may be downloaded from the MCA`s website.

www.mca.org.mt