Melita invests €50m to keep Malta top in Europe

Melita Limited is investing €50m in its networks over the next seven years to deliver the next generation of internet speeds and an unprecedented level of reliability that promises to shape the island’s digital future.

Melita CEO, Harald Roesch unveiled the Road to 10 Gigabits by demonstrating the technology to deliver 10 gigabits, or 10,000 megabits, during a live presentation at Mrieħel in the presence of Economy Minister Silvio Schembri.

This 10 Gbps technology is expected to deliver broadband speeds 10 times faster than today’s fastest nationwide network and will contribute to the development of our society improving the way we all connect, live, work and play.

Roesch said: “While we already offer exceptional connectivity, we are now working towards the next level of internet speeds. You may ask why we’re doing this, especially since much of the hardware we use at home today has to improve before we can benefit from speeds as high as 10 gigabits.

“The reason is simple: by the time devices have evolved and new applications, such as AI, are more widely used, our network will be ready for the demands that it will bring,” he said.

Melita's broadband network is today already a standout in Malta and Europe, being the only provider able to deliver 1,000 megabits per second, or one gigabit, service across an entire nation.

This achievement has placed Malta as the number one country in Europe for ultra broadband connectivity – the islands are the only EU country with complete gigabit internet coverage – according to the European Commission’s Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI).

Minister Schembri said Malta has held the position as the sixth most advanced digital economy in Europe and praised Melita for being a forerunner in the field and investing in Malta.

“A high-speed internet network will enable real-time communication and agile decision-making. What we are launching will transform the way we live, work and interact and ensure that Malta is prepared for the digital revolution ahead,” Schembri said.

Melita chief Technology officer, Simon Montanaro, explained that the promise of a 10 Gbps evolution is set to deliver even better experiences with delay-sensitive applications, while unlocking the potential for new capabilities and internet experiences across a myriad of industries.

While Melita is focused on Malta’s digital future, sustainability is a cornerstone of its agenda and through the Melita Foundation it is supporting and collaborating with non-profit organisations, individuals and other stakeholders to develop the digital skills and creativity Malta needs for further growth.

Melita is also the only telco company in Malta to have joined the United Nations’ Science-based Target Initiative, which aims to achieve the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement by reducing greenhouse gasses to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Roesch said: “We are fully committed to this endeavour. We want to shape our digital future, yet we want to do this while minimising our impact on the environment.”