“Although we have a very strong telecommunications and IT infrastructure, we also realise that one of the ways for us to continue driving innovation is to partner with dynamic entrepreneurs in the digital domain. We also want to be among the first corporates to join the budding community of angel investors in Malta.  This is what spurred the idea of investing in local and international startups.”

This was stated by Nikhil Patil, CEO of GO during the launch of ‘GO Ventures’, GO’s €2 million Tech Startup Fund at Valletta Contemporary in the presence of the Honourable Mr Silvio Schembri, Parliamentary Secretary for Financial Services, Digital Economy and Innovation and other stakeholders in the Maltese innovation and tech start-up ecosystem.

GO announced plans to launch it’s €2million Tech Startup Fund during last October’s Delta Summit. These past months have been dedicated towards setting up the governance and logistical structures for the Fund, establishing connections and meeting potential candidates to understand their expectations better and how GO can assist them.

“We are pleasantly surprised with the feedback we have received so far.  It is encouraging indeed and confirms that there is a huge demand for this project. In fact, once we announced this Fund last October, things immediately started shaking up and since then, we have been actively following up on a number of pitches we received and started discussing a few interesting prospects,” added Mr Patil.

Stefan Briffa, who is leading the GO Ventures project, gave a high-level overview of how the Tech Startup Fund will work.   He explained that the GO Ventures investment package being made available includes cash, spacious co-working space in B’Kara, GO’s full suite of telecom and cloud services, access to markets and networks and mentoring. He added that GO Ventures will focus mainly on startups in the fields of artificial intelligence, big data and analytics, internet of things, cybersecurity, blockchain, fintech and related areas. “We aim to start building our portfolio with a number of initial investments during the course of 2019,” he concluded.

“Today, Malta offers many services to startups, however, they face a common problem in finding enough local sources of financing and investment. The ‘GO Ventures’ Tech Startup Fund will help address this challenge and by working with like-minded partners, GO wants to help foster a Maltese ecosystem of investment in innovation,” explained Nikhil Patil.

 “Most importantly, we want to lend our experience in growing businesses by investing in startups that demonstrate tangible potential in areas that are of interest to our business.   We also see this project as a vehicle to deliver yet more value to our shareholders and stakeholders,” he concluded.

Addressing the event, Hon Silvio Schembri added “As a government we shall continue with this drive to empower our nation through all relevant aspects, enhancing our people’s intrinsic appetite for innovation, which as we have discerned thus far, if encouraged and fully supported, will further contribute to Malta’s unique competitive advantage.  The €2million Go Ventures Start-up Tech Fund will serve as a springboard for start-up companies that are still identifying ways to implement their digital projects related to new emergent technologies.”

“In our drive to be at the forefront of this digital revolution, it is also essential that the private sector becomes a protagonist in attracting both the foreign talent to support technological development, as well as help nurture and retain home-grown talent. I augur GO for their forward-thinking stance that is setting a new benchmark of how Maltese companies can be direct participants in, and benefit from new technology initiatives. I look forward to seeing start-ups benefit from this start-up tech fund which will in return contribute to Malta’s thriving digital economy” added Hon Schembri.

€2 million GO Ventures Fund for Tech Startups

GO recently collaborated with MCAST on a co-lecturing seminar for first-year BA Business Enterprise Degree students within the Institute of Business Management and Commerce (IBMC).

 

This seminar was held on the initiative of course lecturer Thomas J. Dimech as part of a series of co-lectures that bring the industry closer to education, with the aim that students get both the academic and the industrial perspective in practice, in their fields of study.

 

This co-lecture, the third in its series, focused on Managing Quality at the place of work and following an introduction on the topic by MCAST Quality Assurance Director Ing. Pierre Dalmas and Quality Manager Chev. Frank Gatt, the lecture was delivered by Mr. Arthur Azzopardi, Chief Officer GO Business at GO.

 

“At GO, we are very proud to have had this opportunity to collaborate with MCAST to enhance the students’ educational experience. Our contribution will hopefully contribute towards further development of education, students and the future workforce,” said Arthur Azzopardi.

 

The topics discussed included Quality Management Systems, the Culture of Quality, Quality Measuring tools, Practical Implementation of Quality at Functional level, Methods of Inspection and Quality at Source, Perception and Quality Gaps. All speakers concluded by highlighting the importance to remain close to the industry and the relevance of Vocational Education, emphasising that sharing industry experience with IBMC students is only way to prepare students adequately for the place of work.

 

The students had the opportunity to understand the relevance of these subjects within GO which has been an established Communications Services Provider in the Business to Business Segment and also the Business to Consumer Segment.

GO Supports MCAST Co-Lecturing Seminar

Today, Friday, BMIT Technologies plc, a subsidiary of GO plc, will be formally listed on the Malta Stock Exchange marking the remarkable success of an IPO, where institutional and general investors subscribed to close to 99 million shares valued at c.€49 million. In a company announcement issued earlier this week, GO plc confirmed that the IPO was over-subscribed 30.8 million shares. "We are truly humbled by the unwavering support and confidence shown in the company. The response to this offering was as overwhelming as it was encouraging, and an affirmation of our ongoing commitment to ensure that our investments bring more value to all stakeholders, in particular, our shareholders," said Nikhil Patil, CEO, GO plc.

 

"This is another milestone in GO's success story which reflects a forward-looking organisation that is building its future growth on strategic investments," added Nikhil. "Such processes allow us to reinvest in areas that will create greater value, both for our shareholders and customers, and ultimately, the economy as a whole," he concluded.

 

The allocation policy is available for viewing at www.go.com.mt, under the investor section.

 

BMIT Technologies plc will commence its trading activity on the regulated main market of the Malta Stock Exchange on Monday 18th February, under the BMIT ticker symbol.

 

GO concludes a highly successful IPO of BMIT Technologies

GO would like to inform its esteemed customers that with immediate effect, MaltaPay/Mobile Systems Ltd are no longer authorised to collect bill payments or effect Mobile top-ups on behalf of GO Plc. Consequently, the payment and top-up terminals (as seen in this photo) located in various locations around Malta & Gozo should not be used to effect such payments.

Customers can continue to make use of all other payment and top up methods available to them including online payment and top up through GO's website www.go.com.mt or by means of the newly launched GO APP, which can be downloaded through Play Store on Android or the App Store on Apple devices. GO encourages its subscribers to download the APP before the end of January to benefit from an instant 10GB of mobile data for free.

As an alternative method of paying bills or topping up their accounts, customers may also visit one of GO's retail outlets, at Baystreet, B'Kara, PAMA, Paola and Victoria, Gozo or any of the designated exclusive resellers listed hereunder;

Alternately, one can visit one of the GO Exclusive Resellers; Direct Vision - Attard, Audio Images - B'Bugia, Call Zone - Bormla, Top Electronics - Fgura, JLJ - Għaxaq, Telecom - Ħamrun, EPC - Mellieħa, JLJ - M'Scala, Cellefonic - Mosta, KVH - Rabat, Phone Box - San Ġwann, Telecom – San Ġwann, Phone Box - Sliema, Mobics - St. Paul's Bay, Top Electronics - Żebbug, Cellefonic - Żabbar, Direct Vision - Żejtun, Sound & Vision - Victoria, Gozo and Victor's – Xaghra, Gozo.

Customers can also pay bills at Maltapost Branches.

It is important to note that any bill payments effected on MaltaPay/Mobile Systems Ltd terminals, will not be recognized by GO after the 24/01/19.

Notice re Maltapay / Mobile Systems LTD

Over the course of this weekend, GO pulled every string to ensure that its customers suffer the least possible disruption after an unrelated third party contractor accidentally dug through a number of GO's fibre cables in Siggiewi, leaving hundreds of households in Siggiewi and neighbouring localities without broadband, TV, and telephony services.

Despite the difficult working environment and the extreme weather conditions, GO immediately deployed its technical team on site, even bringing in additional subcontractors to expedite the process, who worked non-stop throughout the night and all day Sunday, uncovering pipes and laying new network cables to be able to restore services in the fastest time possible. In fact, the most critical services were restored in under 24 hours.

GO CEO Nikhil Patil expressed his gratitude to all impacted customers for their patience.

"We fully appreciate how critical these services are to our customers and how frustrating it is to them when these are disrupted. We share these frustrations, especially when these are disrupted for reasons well beyond our control. We cannot anticipate these accidents, and therefore cannot plan ahead. So when they do happen, it's all hands on deck to ensure that our valued customers suffer the least."

"Regrettably, we suffer at least two incidents a week that are the result of unrelated 3rd parties, mostly due to construction works. Thankfully, not all are as critical as that experienced this weekend, however this does cost us hundreds of thousands of Euros every year, however of greater concern to us is the inconvenience to our customers," continued Mr Patil.

Such incidents require the input of a dedicated multi-disciplinary team who worked round the clock, to restore services and provide feedback to customers. GO's call centre was in full swing, engaging close to 70 agents who collectively handled over 4700 calls.

"In critical situations such as that experienced over the weekend, we need to quickly assess the situation and identify the best course of action, given the conditions in which we have to work. It is no easy task, but I am very proud of my team and their dedication. I also want to thank our loyal customers for their patience and understanding," said Nikhil Patil.

Over the next couple of days, GO will be reaching out to its impacted customers with a gesture of goodwill for the inconvenience caused.

GO engineers work the night to restore services following multiple cable cuts by third-party works

December is an especially demanding month for GO as the annual fundraising event Istrina approaches, which sees the company mobilising a large team of employees, mainly from its technical department to setup the infrastructure required to handle the large volume of calls during the event.
"GO is a private telecommunications company. We are not compelled or obliged to support Istrina. We do it because we really believe in the value that it brings to the community and we want to do our part. Furthermore, the magnitude of Istrina necessitates a particular technical set up. Being the only company serving an end-to-end fibre network, GO is a natural match to service the fund-raisers very demanding technical requirements," said Nikhil Patil, Chief Executive Officer at GO."

"If we had to quantify the value of GO's support in terms of logistics, manpower and the technology provided, an approximate round figure was calculated to reach over a quarter of a million. And this is not taking into account the cost of all the phone calls and text messages for which GO also waives the cost," added Nikhil Patil. As in previous years, GO also donated €80,000 to Istrina but this donation is over and above the physical and logistical support that the company lends to the annual event. Pierre Attard, Manager of GO's Fixed Access Corporate Services, today considered a veteran when it comes to the Istrina campaign's logistical setup explained how this year's set up required 220 telephone lines including donation lines, hot lines, pledge lines and transmission lines, as well as 15 ADSL lines for internet connections.

Three direct fibre links and some 40 new telephone lines were added over previous years. "All of this requires meticulous planning from site identification, to technology provisioning, to ensure that everything works perfectly on the day. The setup is usually ready four days prior to the event when we start carrying out daily tests of the systems whilst remaining ready for any eventual changes that happen even during the actual event. However, our work does not stop at the end of the event. My team continues working throughout the night dismantling the network that was installed during the previous days," explained Pierre Attard.

"Istrina's success would not be possible without the generosity of the Maltese people who every year donate towards this worthy cause. However, at GO we enjoy the same sense of pride knowing that part of this success was enabled by our state-of-the-art technology and communication infrastructure and logistical support, and a team of professionals who year in and year out continue to dedicate their time and energy for this worthy cause. This year is no exception," concluded Nikhil Patil.

ISTRINA, fully supported by GO’s Communications Infrastructure

Time ‘GO Cares', a team of GO employees that support various worthy causes by organising different activities throughout the year, recently hosted a Christmas party for children supported by the Karl Vella Foundation at L-Arka ta' Noè in Siġġiewi.

The Christmas party kicked off with a guided tour at ‘L-Arka ta Noè. GO volunteers then entertained the children with endless games, music and refreshments. To top it all, Christmas presents were also delivered by GO's own Father Christmas. In addition to the party for the children, the GO employees presented a cheque to the amount of €2,500 to Amelia Calleja, Centre Coordinator to cover one of the Foundation's largest expenses – the use of transport that enables the children to attend the Centre. Furthermore, GO donated a number of laptops to be used for educational purposes. Such activities are funded through the monthly donations that GO employees contribute from their pay towards the GO Cares Employee Fund. More importantly however, in addition to the financial contributions, GO employees dedicate a lot of their time and energy into voluntary activities. "GO employees appreciate the work and admire the dedication of the volunteers at the Karl Vella Foundation in supporting these children who would be experiencing such difficult times.

This is why we wanted to reach out and dedicate some of our time and resources in organising a Christmas activity that takes these children away from their daily struggles and makes them feel extra special, especially during this time of year", said Josephine Grima, Senior Manager, HR Operations who also leads the GO Cares team. Claire Chircop, KVF's Co-founder and Chairperson added "in situations of prolonged, complex health conditions, it is very likely that children end up feeling lonely, despite the best efforts made by their families to ensure they are looked after. At the Karl Vella Foundation we seek to address the issues experienced by children in these circumstances.

Children are encouraged to come to our centre in Attard during the time when their parents or siblings are receiving treatment and, or when their loved one sadly passes away." "At the Centre they are assisted with their homework and studies and they engage in extra-curricular activities organised by our team of volunteers. Some also receive one-to-one psychological help from professionals. Having GO employees sponsoring our annual Christmas party and seeing their enthusiasm in making the best out of this activity is very much appreciated," continued Claire Chircop. The Karl Vella Foundation (KVF) was established to provide educational and psychological assistance to children of families that have been disrupted by the serious illness of a family member. Such services offer respite to the numerous relatives, friends, and anyone else who comes to the assistance of these families during such difficult times.

GO Employees Spread The Joy At Christmas Time

Never lose sight of your treasures with GO Connect Kids and GO Connect Pets

Anyone who has ever been at a busy shopping mall or out and about and lost sight of their child for that split second know what a terribly sinking feeling that is. Likewise, every animal lover who has waited anxiously for their beloved pet to return know how those minutes feel like hours on end.

With GO's new IOT device branded ‘GO Connect Kids' and ‘GO Connect Pets' these fears can be put to rest. "Our strategic direction is very much driven by our customer's feedback. Not only does this feed into our traditional product and service portfolio but it also inspires us to bring to the market IoT products such as Go Connect Kids and GO Connect Pets.

We wanted to give people the peace of mind that they are connected to what matters most, wherever they are, whether in Malta or abroad, without relying on a traditional mobile connection. We are proud to bring to the market the first IoT application that brings real value to our customers in their everyday lives," said Nikhil Patil, CEO at GO.

In the form of a watch, ‘GO Connect Kids' offers a range of features that facilitate constant communication between parent, or designated adult and child. "The GO Connect Kids is a great product for those parents who feel uncomfortable in giving their children a mobile phone from a young age but who still want to have some form of direct communication with them when they are apart. This is how we devised the ‘GO Connect Kids' as a cool new gadget in the form of a comfortable and easy to use watch with a handy GPS tracker that shows a children's real-time location and a two-way calling system using a GO Sim Card.

Parents and carers want a sense of security and control, in fact, the phonebook is controlled by the parents through a dedicated app. Likewise, children need to feel safe too. An SOS button that calls mum, dad or designated adult immediately at the touch of a button provides this sense of safety," said Ms Antonella Zammit, Product Marketing Specialist. The GO Connect Kids app also includes a chat screen where the parent can send short messages to their child, as well as voice messages between the two.

The app can also provide information such as steps and meters walked, calories burned, sleep patterns, as well as another screen for alarms amongst a host of other interesting features. "As we tested the technology, we found out that the concept could be easily extended to other situations so we developed GO Connect Pets that operates a similar platform, after all, our furry friends are also an integral part of the family unit," continued Antonella Zammit.

"The GO Connect Pets, a small, lightweight IOT device that attaches to pet harnesses immediately notifies owners when pets leave a pre-set safe zone, whilst also alerting the animal by a harmless sound. Its battery gives up to 100 hours of power while the actual device, which only weighs 28g, keeps functioning even in the rain or if your pet manages to get the device wet."

"Two very interesting functionalities in this device are the inbuilt set of sounds that can help owners train their pet to respond to specific commands, as well as an activity screen showing the pet's activity through the day. We therefore consider this product as a tool that will enable owners to develop an even stronger bond with their pets," added Antonella.

GO representatives will be demonstrating the ‘GO Connect Kids' and ‘Go Connect Pets' devices at the Tigne Point on Sunday 16th December between 11.00hrs and 18.00hrs. The GO Connect Kids GPS-GSM watch is available from all GO's retail network at €99.99 but GO's Home Pack or Freedom Plan customers benefit from a heavily discounted price of €29.99 with monthly subscription of just €6.99. The GO Connect Pets device retails at €79.99 but similarly, GO's Home Pack or Freedom customers get to enjoy this product at the discounted price of €19.99 and a €4.99 monthly connection rate.

GO launches new IoT devices

GO Customers Experience Up To 60GB of Mobile Data Boom

GO DOUBLES its customers' mobile data allowance for FREE!

GO has completely revamped its Home Pack and its various plans by doubling the amount of mobile data given in specific bundles. This means that some customers get to enjoy up to 60GB of mobile data monthly, at no extra cost.

‘This is an unprecedented move in a data hungry society and marks another step towards completely enhancing our customer's experience with GO. We wanted to ensure that our customers are connected, stay connected, hassle free. We wanted to spare our customers the trouble of having to connect to the nearest WiFi hotspot or worry about hefty monthly bills as a result of increased data usage,' said Nikhil Patil.

‘We have therefore provided all the mobile data one could possibly require on a monthly basis, at no cost to our customer. We want our customers to be comfortable using mobile data, to truly enjoy the freedom and efficiency of being connected any place any time, to enjoy the content they like, whenever and however they want, worry free. I am proud of the fact that with these new packs, GO tops the leaderboard with regard to the highest amount of mobile data being offered in the local market today,' continued Nikhil. Furthermore, with prices starting from just €25 monthly, the newly updated Home Pack provides broadband services with speeds reaching 100Mbps to customers living in GO Fibre areas.

‘We have worked really hard to bring to the market a simple product that combines all of the essential services at a price point that suits everyone. We are offering phenomenal amounts of data that will allow customers to consume the online content and services they enjoy, over the only nationwide 4.5G network on the island,' said Daniela Bagnaschi, Senior Manager, Marketing. ‘This Double data offering, combined with the Home pack and the improved broadband speeds means that GO is the obvious choice for anyone wanting all their communications services in one package,' she continued. These enhancements to GO's Home Pack will apply to all the various packages namely Freedom Beyond, Freedom Essential and Freedom Lite packages.

GO Customers Experience Up To 60GB of Mobile Data Boom

GO upgrades its Business Infinity Pack

Up to 1GB Internet speeds.

Sports TV packages for FREE! GO has just upgraded and streamlined its value-packed, Infinity product for its business clients.

The New Business Infinity Pack makes it the most competitive package on the market, ensuring that either of its three tariff plans addresses the needs of any business. Offering improved internet speeds, free telephony, as well as refreshed TV offering makes it the ‘go-to' product for any business. ‘Our aim was to simplify our products, whilst packing in additional value for our customers. We wanted to make their decision as easy as possible.

Our streamlined products are the result of extensive analysis of our client feedback, as well as of the operational demands of businesses today. We looked at what businesses need, what they expect, and set an ambition of delivering exactly this and more,' said Nikhil Patil, Chief Executive Officer. ‘We strongly believe that our Infinity pack has a tier for every business set up. We are offering the fastest speeds on the island at the greatest value, adding in the benefits of an upgraded TV package.

This is just a starting point. Our aim is to continue adding increased value to the local business community,' said Christian Sammut, Chief Officer – GO Business. The New Business Infinity pack comes with a simplified product offering devised on three plans with three different internet download speeds - 75Mbps, 300Mbps and 1Gbps. For further details on the improved Business Infinity pack visit: <a href="http://www.go.com.mt/businessinfinity">www.go.com.mt/businessinfinity</a> and <a href="http://www.go.com.mt/business/self-employed/tv">www.go.com.mt/business/self-employed/tv </a>for the Standalone TV products.

GO upgrades its Business Infinity Pack

The GRID, which took place last Saturday was the ultimate showcase of determination, motivation, commitment and the culmination of months of preparation and grueling training. It was the perfect example of all that GO stands for – it is these characteristics that were the driving force behind GO's decision to sponsor such an event for the next three years.

"We sponsored The GRID because as a company, we believe in events that help nurture strong competitive values and which encourage participants, whether seasoned athletes or newbies, to fully embrace a healthy lifestyle. This is why, besides supporting the event, we also encouraged our employees to participate as a team and today, we are so proud of their achievements, both personal, but moreso what they achieved as a team," said Nikhil Patil, Chief Executive Officer.

GO supported its own employees by part subsidizing the participation fee, providing training kits to all participating employees and was there on the day, providing every word of encouragement. This is just one example of the numerous wellbeing initiatives rolled out at GO.

‘The benefits we have seen of our participation far exceed our initial expectations. Starting off as an addition to our sponsorship list, we never imagined how deeply engaged and committed our own team of Gridsters, as we aptly nicknamed them, would become,' said Ayrton Caruana, Chief of Human Resources. ‘What started off as another commercial decision soon became one of the best team building exercises, as my colleagues can attest to,' he continued.

"At GO, teamwork is one of our highest values and the GRID helped us set a new personal challenge. We were totally committed and through constant weekly training, Saturdays included, come rain or shine, we made sure everyone remain focused and geared up for this event. Last Saturday, the team rose to the occasion and we are proud to say that we all managed to complete the challenge successfully. The best part is that we walked away from the GRID more as close friends than as colleagues," said Laurie Pace.

Laurie Pace, who is a Branding and Event Specialist at GO, but also a former Olympic athlete who represented Malta as a judoka in three consecutive Summer Olympics and also won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in New Zealand, voluntarily took on the responsibility of training 29 employees.

‘We have received phenomenal feedback from everyone that participated, from how much they enjoyed the training, to the friendships that grew between colleagues, to the self-fulfillment resulting from committing to a goal. In just a few days after the GRID, we have grown from a team of 29, to team of over 50 Gridsters. This is what makes us proud to be one of Malta's leading employers,' stated Ayrton Caruana.

GO Sponsors, Conquers THE GRID

GO has signed an agreement which will enable operators which don't have their own network to make use of GO's state-of-the-art Fibre-To-The-Home (FTTH) network in order to offer fixed broadband services, powered by GO's fibre network, to their respective subscribers. "With this agreement, GO continues to confirm itself as the main investor in Malta's successful telecommunications infrastructure, enabling operators to service their customers better," said GO's CEO Nikhil Patil.

"GO has been investing millions every year to ensure a robust telecommunications infrastructure that can service the increased demand and to support Malta and its growing economy. We have done so at great expense, effort and risk so that Malta can be at the forefront when it comes to technology and telecommunications because, as a Maltese-grown company, GO sees, understands, and strives to exceed people's and businesses' expectations. GO is proud of this investment that delivered the required infrastructure for Government to realise its vision for Malta to become the blockchain island." Mr Patil remarked that not all operators have the will, nor the propensity to invest in Malta the way GO has been investing in FTTH across the islands over the past years. In fact, GO plans to be the only operator with a fibre network reaching the majority of Maltese households.

One must also not forget the regulatory obligations currently being imposed on GO which make it easier for other operators to ride on its existing infrastructures. Mr Patil assured GO shareholders that the company is keeping its investment options under constant review and will adhere to its duty to invest only when sustainable rates of return are foreseeable. "GO is proud that global brands acknowledge what we can offer them, and we are delighted that such operators choose our fibre network to keep providing their services to customers," concluded Mr Patil.