Fibre-to-the-Home network may cost €1,260 per home

Emanuel Delia, Head of Secretariat at the Communications Ministry, said that the plan to set up the Fibre-to-the-Home network may cost government between €164 and €216 million.

"It is estimated, that an investment of €1,260 per home is required to build such a network," Delia said.

"Government is cognisant of the significant challenges associates with the roll-out of a FTTH network. It is therefore prepared to share some of the risks and incentivise investment through direct intervention."

Delia said that by supporting the deployment of next generation networks, government will be facilitating ultra-fast broadband access to all users and attracting investment by the private sector.

"It will also ensure the electronic communications sector remain competitive going forward," Delia said.

Last year, Government initiated an in-depth study to assess the business case for building such a network in Malta.

Delia said the European Union has created a fund of over €9 billion to help fund the building and roll out of ultra-fast broadband networks and related services in a bid to ensure that Europe emerges from the current crises and remains globally competitive.