The government has been surprised by the strong public reaction to its offer to subsidise broadband internet access to all those who currently do not have broadband, IT minister Austin Gatt said.

Applications for the subsidised service, which will be provided at just 3 euros per month for a year, will be received on Saturday morning at a fair in Merchants’ Street.

Dr Gatt said that although he had originally said that the government expected some 5,000 applications, it looked like more would apply. The government would seek to provide the service to as many people as possible, he said. The service, called Blueskies, is being given in association with a number of ISPs.

Dr Gatt also announced that the government is introducing a new service whereby anybody moving home would only have to make one change of address notification for all government ministries and departments. He said that www.changeaddress.gov.mt. was another link in the e-government services. The new facility has been developed by Alert Communications, which forms part of the e-government alliance.