16 - 22 November 2000

Digital microwave link between Malta and Sicily

by David Kelleher

Maltacom will be adding another International Gateway connection next week when it finalises an agreement for the setting up of a digital microwave link between Malta and Sicily.
Speaking to The Malta Business Weekly yesterday evening, the chief executive officer of Maltacom, Stephen Muscat, said Maltacom was in the final stages of signing an agreement to install a digital microwave link between the two countries.
“We will be announcing and signing the agreement next week. The new link will bring the number of international gateway connections to three,” Mr Muscat said.
Reports in the media over the past days have voiced concerns that Malta has only one international connection with the rest of the world and that if something happened to that link, the country – in particular those individuals or companies depending on the transfer of data – would face enormous problems.
However, Mr Muscat said this was not the case.
“We already have two gateways. The first is the sub-marine cable to Sicily and the second is the satellite link through the earth station at Maghtab. Therefore, it is not true that we have only one connection to the outside world,” Mr Muscat said.
On the contrary, he added, Maltacom was more than aware of the need to have more than one alternative to transmit information, be it voice or data.
“Maltacom will now be augmenting its international connectivity and providing our clients with an another alternative. All three gateways can be used by Internet Service Providers,” Mr Muscat said.

With regards to Internet connectivity, Mr Muscat said that clients had an option of choosing between the ‘land-line’ fibre-optic cable or the satellite link at Maghtab.
“Most have opted for the fibre-optic connection but this does not mean that if something goes wrong they are in a fix. We offer the opportunity to switch to the other connection if the need arises.
Asked whether the ditigal microwave link will result in cheaper bandwidth, an issue that is constantly being debated, Mr Muscat said the trend is that prices go down.
“The more bandwidth you purchase the better the price that can be negotiated with the provider,” Mr Muscat said.
The agreement for the provision of a digital microwave connection between Malta and Sicily is the result of a joint effort between Maltacom and Telecom Italia.