As part of its €100 million investment plan in next generation networks over the next five years, GO has begun successfully deploying higher-speed fibre broadband internet technologies in a number of localities, as well as providing speeds of up to 100 megabits per second (Mbps) in specific areas of Malta.
In July, GO announced that it was investing €100 million over a six-year period starting from this year as part of its technology roadmap which will see it launching next generation networks such as fibre-to-the-home, mobile network upgrades and investments in its TV infrastructure to cover new services and applications.
GO is the first communications provider in Malta to be offering 100 Mbps fibre connectivity, as part of its commercial trials at Portomaso and Forth Mansions in Ta’ Xbiex. The plan is to offer similar speeds in more areas of Malta and Gozo, once fibre is made more widely available, subject to upcoming government policy and regulatory decisions.
In addition, GO is upgrading its existing infrastructure to offer higher speeds to households, as fibre technology is brought closer to the customers’ residences, with the result that customers can benefit from increased speeds of up to 20 Mbps. Numerous areas in Malta and Gozo are already benefiting from these higher speeds.
“Our aim is to provide faster speeds and better quality and reliability via a future-proof technology that is fibre, which will allow bandwidth-hungry applications to run on it smoothly thanks to smarter devices. The aim is to extend fibre to reach customers’ residences direct and therefore provide significantly higher speeds,” comments GO chief commercial officer Duncan Howard.
“We will be looking at applications whereby there will be a converged experience of internet and TV content via a TV set-top box that allows customers to watch their favourite content and applications on their TV. The Future Connected Home, something we showcased at the last Trade Fair, will also benefit from fibre technology. This solution allows different home devices such as a tablet PC or smartphone to interact together in a completely new way via a centralised home gateway, which is part of GO’s ongoing commitment to invest in the future needs of its customers,” he added.