The benefits of True Fibre with John Stivala, Senior Manager, Fixed Access Build and Operations

What are the benefits of upgrading to FTTH (Fibre to the Home)?

In upgrading to FTTH, we will be turning off the previous copper network. The copper is being recycled. The issue with the previous network was that it was using old and inefficient apparatus.

In what ways does the upgrade to FTTH contribute to indirect savings, particularly in terms of power efficiency and equipment modernization?

We will be indirectly saving in two ways. Firstly, modern equipment is power-efficient compared to older, out-of-date equipment. Secondly, the exchange room no longer needs to be as large as it previously was. This leads to savings in air condition use and efficiency of the newer equipment, leading to less electrical consumption as a result of switching to FTTH.

What specific advantages does fibre have over the previous copper network, both in terms of technology and sustainability?

Fibre is the future, the possibilities are almost endless. Fibre also leads to less faults. Copper, inevitably corrodes, thus causing damage. This leads to technicians having to be sent out to fix these faults and thus creating emissions from transport. Fibre is immune to corrosion and does not suffer from weathering. Copper would cause faults through weather events and corrosion over time. Fibre is a lot less susceptible to faults. This should contribute to less faults and hence should result in less fuel use and consequently less pollution.

How many faults did we have whilst using the Copper network and how has the number of faults changed with the implementation of the new Fibre network?

From the cable side of the process, as of 5th December 2023, we had 2394 cases of faults as a result of the copper network. There has been a stark year-on-year decline in the number of faults from the copper network, this is due to the introduction of the Fibre network. In terms of faults resulting from the fibre network, as of 5th December 2023, we’ve had 1186 faults. The number of faults increased as a result of the increased coverage of the fibre network. It’s important to note that the number of faults are only increasing slightly considering the vast coverage taking place.

Furthermore even when compared to the diminishing copper network, there are far less faults that arise from the Fibre network.

How does fibre compare to copper in terms of maintenance requirements, and what implications does this have for environmental sustainability?

We had a problem with copper, we could not pass it with electrical wiring. Thus everything had to be underground and this led to more pollution. Fibre can be passed with electrical wires. This leads to a reduction in civil engineering. Fibre also requires a lot less maintenance.

How many homes are currently passed through Fibre to the Home?

Till the 5th of December, we have almost 78% of all homes in Malta and Gozo.

When do we envisage to complete the Fibre rollout?

The rollout will be completed sometime in 2025.

Our GO Green Initiative

At GO plc, we’re not just a telecommunications company, we’re a group of people who connect people all over Malta and Gozo. We strive to maintain this connectivity, not just digitally, but also physically. It’s important that we take care of our physical environment so that future generations can also enjoy the same connectivity. That’s why we’ve set up GO Green, an extension of GO primarily focusing on helping sustain and improve the environment whenever possible.

This blog post was written by Benjamin Thomas Scerri – Sustainability Associate, GO Green.

Benjamin is a member of the GO Green team. His main focus is keeping track of new ways in which to make GO more sustainable wherever and whenever possible.