NEWS | Wednesday, 23 April 2008

GO to convert existing fixed-line network into a completely fibre optic one

Maltese telecoms company GO has started preparations to convert its existing fixed-line network into a completely fibre-optic one which will be able to achieve Internet speeds at least ten times as much as those at present as well as supply services like IPTV alongside the fixed phone line.
Speaking during an extensive interview with Charlot Zahra, published elsewhere in this issue (see interview), GO Chairman Sonny Portelli said: “At present our people have started the preparations to take the company’s fibre-optic network closer to subscribers’ homes: the last kilometre.
“This will open a new world to our subscribers, because broadband and digital television will be provided in a totally different manner as we know it nowadays. This is the future, and towards this end the company is making substantial investments,” he explained.
Asked about the timeframes for this project, Portelli told BusinessToday: “Obviously one cannot wire up the whole country in five minutes. However, there are milestones and there are certain regions of Malta where we will arrive before others due to the geography and other technical reasons.
“In addition, there are also timeframes to be considered as one needs MEPA and ADT permits before commencing the works,” he explained.
Portelli said that this, together with the take-over of Multiplus last year and the establishment of GO Mobile, was just one of the measures that the company took to replace the declining revenues from the fixed line telephony business.
“However, this does not mean that fixed line telephony will disappear as from tomorrow; the technology still has a future and will be around for quite a number of years yet,” he told Business Today.