GO will soon be offering faster mobile broadband and more reliable voice services to its subscribers as a result of an agreement it has just signed with Nokia Siemens Networks.
GO is revamping its existing GSM and 3G networks through the replacement of the current infrastructure and doubling the number of base stations to provide high quality network and reliable voice and mobile data connections − both indoors and outdoors
Noel Grima
GO has selected Nokia Siemens Networks to provide the new radio mobile backhaul network and related services. The agreement was signed last week by David Kay, GO’s Chief Executive Officer and Joao Picoito, Head of the South East Europe Region Nokia Siemens.
Speaking about the benefits of the new network, Mr Kay said: “The ambitious project entails massive expansion of the 3G mobile coverage footprint making it the widest in Malta, working with the latest technology that will ensure high network quality as well as reliable voice and fast mobile data connections seamlessly across Malta and Gozo.
“The project will involve the replacement of the entire existing GSM and 3G radio infrastructure with state-of-the-art equipment from Nokia Siemens Networks. The quantity of mobile transmission sites will also be significantly increased, giving GO’s customers the benefit of a superior mobile experience, for both voice and data, the latter being the main area of growth in mobile communications today.”
This investment is part of the €100 million investment GO is making over six years, now in its second year, Mr Kay said. The company is also investing in its fixed line network and has introduced a very impressive product with its IPTV. GO is currently boosting its back-office and customer services and the training of its workforce.
GO’s clients now number 530,000, Mr Kay concluded, spread around GO’s quadplay offer.
Michael Mertsch, GO’s Chief Technical Officer explained that mobile coverage in Malta, now rather patchy at some points, will be completely covered by GO at the end of this exercise. Signal reception indoors will also improve and the bandwidth on offer will be steady and seamless.
The system will go up to 7.2 Mbps by the end of this year, going up to 14.4 and later even to 42 Mbps to allow GO users to benefit from future technologies.
This state-of-the-art technology, apart from being expandable, is also environmentally friendly in that it is more reliable and resilient and relies on lesser power on the mobile antennae since they will be spread out more across the country.
“With a broadband penetration higher than the European Union average, Malta continues to witness an increasing demand for improved data services, especially from companies and organisations. Additionally, more than a million tourists who visit the country every year make a very attractive potential customer base,” said Joao Picoito, head of the South East Europe region, Nokia Siemens Networks. “It is therefore important for operators such as GO to prepare their networks to offer high-speed mobile broadband services and to withstand any surge in data and voice traffic.”
Nokia Siemens Networks will replace GO’s existing radio mobile network with its energy-efficient, compact Flexi Multiradio Base Stations. In addition, the company will add new sites to expand coverage and improve network performance.
GO will deploy Nokia Siemens Networks’ NetAct network management system to efficiently monitor, optimise and configure its network.
GO’s customers will experience an improved performance on mobile voice calls as well as higher mobile broadband speeds for their smartphone and mobile lap tops. In addition to providing industry-leading performance upon deployment, the platform chosen by GO will provide a stable base for the introduction of the next generation of mobile technology, such as 4G, when it becomes available.
GO has taken the opportunity to opt for a ‘green’ technology that is substantially more energy-efficient than the one it is replacing, thus contributing to the fulfilment of the company’s social responsibility objectives.
The replacement of a live network is a challenging project, but is being planned in such a way as to limit the inconvenience to customers – and to third parties that host GO’s base stations − to the very minimum.
The project is expected to be completed in slightly more than a year, but customers will benefit from improved performance earlier, as specific phases of the project are completed.
Earlier this year, GO completed the replacement of its network core which switches calls. So this project means a complete overhaul of the infrastructure launched by GO mobile in 2000.