GO

GO is a Malta-based integrated telecommunications provider operating under the GO brand. Its activities span fixed-line voice, mobile communications, broadband internet, digital television and business connectivity services, making it a quadruple-play operator. The company serves residential customers, mobile users, small businesses and larger corporate clients in Malta. The business has roots in Malta's long-established international communications infrastructure. Undersea telegraph links from Malta to Sicily and Egypt were established in the nineteenth century, and several communications operations were later consolidated into Cable & Wireless. The modern corporate predecessor was created through the Telemalta Corporation Act of 1974. Telemalta held monopoly rights over telecommunications operations and regulation in Malta until the market and corporate structure began to change. Maltacom was established as a public limited company in 1997 and took over Telemalta's assets. The Maltese government initially retained a 60 percent holding, while the remaining 40 percent was offered to the public by 1998. Maltacom subsequently expanded beyond fixed telecommunications. In 1999, its subsidiary Mobisle Communications received Malta's second mobile communications licence, subject to the divestment of Maltacom's interest in Vodafone Malta. Mobisle launched a GSM service under the GO Mobile name in late 2000. The company changed ownership and broadened its service portfolio during the 2000s. In 2006, the Maltese government sold its 60 percent interest in Maltacom to TECOM Investments, a subsidiary of Dubai Holding. In February 2007, Maltacom Group acquired Multiplus, a digital terrestrial television operator. This acquisition brought television into the group's telecommunications and internet activities. On 12 June 2007, Maltacom Group adopted the GO brand, consolidating Maltacom, the maltaNET internet service, Multiplus and GO Mobile under one identity. GO's consumer offering is organized around communications and entertainment bundles. Its home-oriented services combine fixed voice, broadband and digital television, while its mobile business serves both personal and business subscribers. The business division provides fixed connectivity, internet access, digital television, hosting and co-location services for corporate customers. The company's network strategy has included international fibre connectivity, including a second submarine fibre cable to Mazara, Italy, which was brought into service in 2008 to increase Malta's external capacity. Ownership changed again in 2016 when Tunisia's national telecommunications company, Tunisie Telecom, agreed to acquire a 60 percent stake from EIT for €200 million. By July 2019, Tunisie Telecom was reported to hold 65.42 percent of GO. GO therefore operates as a Maltese telecommunications brand within the ownership structure of a larger North African telecoms group. Its core identity remains local: it provides communications infrastructure and bundled services to Malta's households and businesses across fixed, mobile, broadband and television categories.

GO's history is connected to Malta's strategic position in Mediterranean communications. An undersea telegraph cable from Malta to Sicily was laid in 1857, followed by a connection to Egypt in 1868. The communications operations associated with these links were later consolidated, and the resulting organization was renamed Cable & Wireless in 1934. The modern Maltese telecommunications system was reorganized by the Telemalta Corporation Act of 1974. Telemalta became the national telecommunications operator and regulator and was granted monopoly rights over telecommunications services. The next major structural change came in 1997, when Maltacom was established as a public limited company and assumed Telemalta's assets. The Maltese government retained a 60 percent stake, while 40 percent was sold to members of the public by 1998. Maltacom developed a broader communications portfolio during the liberalization and digitization of the sector. In 1999, its subsidiary Mobisle Communications received a licence to operate Malta's second mobile network. The licence required Maltacom to dispose of its 20 percent interest in Vodafone Malta within six months of Mobisle's launch. Mobisle introduced a GSM network under the GO Mobile brand in late 2000, giving the group a mobile presence alongside its fixed-line operations. In May 2006, TECOM Investments, part of Dubai Holding, acquired the Maltese government's 60 percent interest in Maltacom. In February 2007, Maltacom Group acquired Multiplus, a digital terrestrial television provider. The acquisition allowed the group to combine fixed telephony, mobile services, internet access and television. On 12 June 2007, the group was renamed GO. The new identity brought together the former Maltacom, maltaNET, Multiplus and GO Mobile brands. GO strengthened its international network infrastructure in January 2008 by activating a second submarine fibre cable to Mazara, Italy. The additional route increased the capacity available for Malta's international voice and data traffic and supported the development of broadband and digital services. The company organized its commercial activities around several broad segments. GO Business served corporate customers with fixed voice, broadband, digital television, hosting and co-location. GO Mobile covered mobile services for business and personal users. GO Plus focused on the home market, combining fixed-line communication, broadband and digital television. This portfolio made GO a quadruple-play operator, with services spanning voice, mobile, television and internet access. In June 2016, Tunisie Telecom agreed to acquire 60 percent of GO from EIT for €200 million. The transaction placed the Maltese operator under the control of a Tunisian telecommunications group while preserving GO's role as a Malta-focused service provider. By July 2019, Tunisie Telecom was reported to hold 65.42 percent of the company. GO remains an active Maltese telecommunications business with roots in the former national operator and a service model built around converged communications.

1. 2019Tunisie Telecom reported as majority owner

   Tunisie Telecom was reported to hold 65.42 percent of GO.

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2. 2016Tunisie Telecom agreed to acquire control

   Tunisie Telecom agreed to purchase 60 percent of GO from EIT for €200 million.

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3. 2008Second submarine fibre cable activated

   GO brought a second submarine fibre connection to Mazara, Italy, into service.

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4. 2007Multiplus acquisition and GO rebrand

   Maltacom Group acquired Multiplus and then consolidated its telecommunications, internet, television and mobile brands under GO.

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5. 2006TECOM Investments acquired the government's stake

   TECOM Investments acquired the Maltese government's 60 percent holding in Maltacom.

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6. 2000GO Mobile GSM network launched

   Mobisle launched a GSM network under the GO Mobile brand.

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7. 1999Mobisle received a second mobile licence

   Maltacom subsidiary Mobisle Communications was issued a licence to operate Malta's second mobile network.

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8. 1998Public shareholding expanded

   Forty percent of Maltacom was sold to the general public while the Maltese government retained a majority stake.

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9. 1997Maltacom became a public limited company

   Maltacom was formed and assumed the assets of Telemalta.

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10. 1974Telemalta was established

    The Telemalta Corporation Act created Telemalta as Malta's telecommunications operator and regulator.

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11. 1868Malta–Egypt telegraph connection

    A further undersea telegraph cable connected Malta with Egypt.

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12. 1857First Malta–Sicily undersea telegraph cable

    An undersea telegraph connection was laid between Malta and Sicily, forming part of the island's early international communications infrastructure.

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A locally established Maltese quadruple-play telecommunications provider combining fixed, mobile, broadband and television services for households and businesses.

• GO MobileMobile telecommunications2000

  GO Mobile is the group's mobile communications business. It originated with the GSM network launched by Maltacom subsidiary Mobisle Communications in late 2000 after the subsidiary received Malta's second mobile licence. The service has served both personal and business customers as part of GO's broader converged communications portfolio.

• GO PlusResidential telecommunications bundle

  GO Plus is the home-focused part of GO's service portfolio. It groups residential fixed-line voice, broadband internet and digital television services, reflecting the company's positioning as a quadruple-play provider rather than a single-service telephone operator.

• GO BusinessBusiness telecommunications

  GO Business is directed at corporate and organizational customers. Its described services include fixed-line communications, broadband, digital television, hosting and co-location. The portfolio extends GO's consumer connectivity capabilities into managed infrastructure and business communications.

• GO broadbandInternet access

  GO provides residential and business internet access through DSL and fibre-to-the-home technologies. The company's international fibre expansion, including the second cable to Mazara, Italy, supports its broadband and other data services.

• GO digital televisionDigital television

  GO's television business provides digital terrestrial television and is offered within the company's residential and business communications bundles. The television capability was strengthened through the 2007 acquisition of Multiplus.

• 2016Sale of a controlling stake to Tunisie TelecomM&A

  GO was controlled by EIT after the earlier transfer of the Maltese government's interest in Maltacom to TECOM Investments.

  What changed. Tunisie Telecom agreed to purchase 60 percent of GO from EIT for €200 million.

  Aftermath. GO became controlled by Tunisie Telecom while continuing to operate as a Malta-focused telecommunications provider. Tunisie Telecom was reported to hold 65.42 percent by July 2019.

  Transaction value. €200 million (June 2016)

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• 2008International fibre capacity expansionOther

  Malta's telecommunications services depend on international connections for voice and data traffic.

  What changed. GO activated a second submarine fibre cable connecting Malta with Mazara, Italy.

  Aftermath. The additional route substantially increased the company's international fibre capacity.

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• 2007Consolidation under the GO brandStrategy

  Maltacom Group had assembled fixed telecommunications, internet, mobile and digital television activities through its subsidiaries and the acquisition of Multiplus.

  What changed. On 12 June 2007, the group rebranded Maltacom, maltaNET, Multiplus and GO Mobile under the single GO identity.

  Aftermath. The change established GO as a unified quadruple-play telecommunications brand in Malta.

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• 2016Tunisie Telecom agreed to acquire a controlling stake in GO

  Tunisie Telecom agreed to purchase 60 percent of the Maltese telecommunications company from EIT for €200 million.

  M&A
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• 2008GO expanded international fibre capacity

  The company activated a second submarine fibre connection between Malta and Mazara, Italy, increasing external network capacity.

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• 2007Maltacom Group rebranded as GO

  Following the acquisition of Multiplus, Maltacom Group unified Maltacom, maltaNET, Multiplus and GO Mobile under the GO brand.

  Other
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1. GO (Malta)