Malta - Media

In 1997, there were 187,000 main line phones in use throughout the country along with 17,691 mobile cellular phones.

Malta's government radio service transmits on two channels (one Maltese, one English). There are also eight private radio stations in operation. Television programs are received primarily from a local service and from Italy. As of 2001 there were 1 AM and 18 FM radio stations and 6 television stations, plus one commercial cable network. In 1997, there were 255,000 radios and 280,000 television sets throughout the country. In 2000, two Internet service providers served about 40,000 users.

The press includes daily and Sunday newspapers, published in both Maltese and English. Leading papers (with estimated 2002 circulations) are It-Torca (Maltese, 30,000 daily), L'Orizzont (Maltese, 25,000 weekly), the Times (English, 23,000 daily), Il-Mument (Maltese, 25,000 weekly), and In-Nazzion Taghna (Maltese, 20,000 daily).

The constitution provides for freedom of speech and press, and the government is said to respect these rights in practice.