Melita has applied to the Malta Communications Authority for a licence to trial fifth generation - or 5G - mobile technology.

This trial, which will take place at a limited number of selected sites, will only use frequencies which wireless networks have already been using for many years, Melita said in a statement announcing the news.

5G is the successor to 4G networks which provide wireless connectivity to mobile devices amongst others. All 5G wireless devices in a geographical area, called a cell, are connected to the Internet and telephone network by radio waves through a local antenna in the cell. The main advantage of the new networks is that they will have greater bandwidth, giving higher download speeds

 “In 2018, Melita commissioned Ericsson to upgrade its mobile network and make it 5G ready. Today, with this state-of-the-art network in place, we are able to begin trialing 5G technology on frequencies which are already in use and therefore assess the performance of Ericsson’s advanced technology in this local context”, Simon Montanaro, Chief Technology Officer at Melita Limited, said.

”We believe the approach Melita is adopting for this trial - using existing mobile antenna sites and spectrum which has been used in households for a long time - will also show only a very negligible increase in emissions. The results of the technical trial will be made public”, Harald Rösch, CEO at Melita Limited, said.