Facing up to comp

QYou have made quite a transition from large organisation with oversight for a number central European markets to a relatively small, Mediterranean market, albeit one with a regional dimension. What was it that attracted you to GO? Malta is a respected mem

AK ber of the EU, and rapidly experiencing many of the trends and influences one can observe in mainland Europe. The Maltese telecommunications market will soon arrive at a crossroad, and require a transformational effort from market players to live up to the twin challenges of expansionist global players and rapidly evolving customer demand. After several years at the Head Office of a multinational company, I was looking for a CEO level operational challenge. GO is a great company, with excellent fundamentals and experienced people. I am looking forward to making my own contribution to GO’s ongoing transformation as the best service provider in Malta.

QWhat are your first impressions of the market, and the people/culture here in Malta? Clearly, Maltese society

AK still embraces strong traditional values, the result of your history and enviable heritage. People here care about each other. However, the Maltese are resilient fighters, survivors who can rally round and protect common ground. One observes a strong work ethic and high standards. GO is not only an essential part of the local fabric and a fantastic national brand; it sums up what Malta is all about - tough, rooted in strong values, outward-looking, perfectly capable of rising to the challenges of the future.

QAll the network operators seem to claim they are the best/fastest etc. What’s your own view, how does GO compare say on mobile network speed and reliability? The telecommunications industry is driven by technology, which evolves con- tinuously. As operators inevitably follow different investment cycles, their capabilities continue to change. There are, however, two important facts that we need to be clear about. Firstly, fibre-to-thehome, which only GO is rolling out is the best available fixed line technology in the world. All major global players are investing in fibre. Some of our competitors have broadly available cable coverage, which is good technology, but one generation older than ours. With this technology they are still able to temporarily claim a speed advantage in those areas where fibre has not yet been deployed. But in areas covered by fibre our speed advantage is undisputed and will remain so in the future.

Secondly, GO has the fastest, broadest, best mobile network in Malta. This is a fact which was recently confirmed by Net Check, an internationally recognized independent certifying agency. GO’s mobile network is superior, particularly when it comes to data, because ours is the only network