Malta's GO upgrades mobile infrastructure

Nokia Siemens Networks to provide base station, IP backhaul equipment for Maltese incumbent. Malta's incumbent telecoms provider GO has announced plans to upgrade and extend its mobile network infrastructure, a project that will see it double the number of base stations it operates. "The project will entail the replacement of the entire existing GSM and 3G radio infrastructure with state-of-the-art equipment from Nokia Siemens Networks," GO chief executive David Kay said in a statement on Monday. Under the terms of the deal, of undisclosed value, Nokia Siemens Networks will replace GO's existing radio network with its Flexi Multiradio Base Stations, as well as adding new sites. It will also implement an all-IP backhaul network, integrating Cisco kit and its own FlexiPacket Microwave equipment, and will provide related services. "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 organizations," said João Picoito, head of the South East Europe region at Nokia Siemens Networks, citing European Commission figures. "Additionally, more than a million tourists who visit the country every year make a very attractive potential customer base," he said. "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." The island has 463,861 active mobile subscriptions, which equates to penetration of 112.32%, as of the end of Q1, according to the latest figures from the Malta Communications Authority (MCA). The majority, 373,737, are prepaid connections. Vodafone Malta leads the market, followed by GO. Vodafone claims 47.75% of prepaid customers to GO's 43.52%, and has signed up 45.33% of contract customers, compared with 34.99% for GO. Malta is home to 123,863 broadband connections - including DSL, cable and fixed wireless – as of the same date. DSL connections number 64,780, with GO taking a 98.98% share of that market, while cableco Melita controls 100% of Malta's 54,184 cable connections.