Barely two months after the launch of Melita Mobile, a new mobile phone operator will be launched shortly, Business Today has learnt, bringing the number of mobile phone operators in Malta to six.
The new mobile operator will launch under the brand “MTV Mobile”, however it is not known whether the brand of the music television network mostly popular with the younger age groups is being used by a local licensee or whether it is a direct investment by the parent company of MTV Networks.
A website at www.mtvmobile.com.mt has already been set up, where customers were invited to register their interest to receive information about the packages that will be offered by MTV Mobile.
It is neither known whether MTV Mobile will be using a Mobile Virtual Network Operator system, whereby mobile phone brands use the infrastructure of another established mobile phone network.
Aspider, the only known MVNO solutions company in Malta, which handles RedTouchFone and Bay Mobile through Vodafone’s infrastructure, denied any involvement with the MTV Mobile brand.
So far, GO shied away from opening its mobile infrastructure to MVNOs, with the two MVNOs currently operating in Malta. Asked about their involvement with MTV Mobile, a GO spokesperson declined to comment.
On 27 June 2008, the Malta Communications Authority (MCA) had licensed ONE Productions Limited, operators of One Radio and ONE Television, as an MVNO under the ONE Mobile brand, which was subsequently changed to RedTouchFone after the owner of One Telecoms Limited had successfully sued ONE Productions over alleged trademark infringement.
A second MVNO operator, Bay Mobile, was granted a license by the MCA on 27 June 2008. Bay Mobile is operated by BayTel Limited, part of the Eden Leisure Group, which owns Bay Radio and The Eden Cinemas, among other things.
Like the MTV brand, Bay Mobile targets teenage groups.
