GO Launches EU-Funded Upgrade of Malta’s Strategic GO-1 Submarine Cable Link

GO p.l.c., Malta’s leading telecommunications provider, today announced the launch of the MOGOSC project (MOdernisation of the GO-1 Submarine Cable), a strategic infrastructure upgrade that will significantly enhance Malta’s connectivity to Europe and strengthen the country’s digital resilience.

The project is co-funded by the European Union through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Digital Programme which supports the deployment of secure, high-capacity digital infrastructure across Europe.

The GO-1 submarine cable is one of Malta’s most important international telecommunications assets. Stretching approximately 290 kilometres between St Paul’s Bay, Malta, and Mazara del Vallo, Sicily, the system provides a direct high-capacity connection to mainland Europe and carries a substantial proportion of Malta’s international internet and telecommunications traffic.

As part of the project, GO will replace the existing submarine line terminal equipment (SLTE) at both cable landing stations with a next-generation transmission platform that will deliver significantly greater capacity, enhanced cybersecurity, and full alignment with European strategic infrastructure requirements.

The project has total eligible costs of €1.56 million, of which the European Union is contributing €778,636.50, representing 50% co-funding. Completion is expected by September 2027.

“Malta’s economic competitiveness depends on reliable international connectivity which is fundamental to the country’s digital transformation and national resilience,” said Kelvin Camenzuli, Chief Digital Officer at GO p.l.c.

“This investment ensures that the GO-1 cable continues to provide Malta with secure, high-capacity connectivity to European and global networks for many years to come. We are proud to be delivering this project with the support of the European Union and HaDEA, helping strengthen Malta’s position as a digitally connected island nation.”

GO has initiated a Request for Proposal (RFP) process to select a qualified technology partner for the supply and deployment of the new terminal equipment. In line with European cybersecurity objectives, participation is restricted to vendors that are not considered high-risk under relevant EU security frameworks.

Deployment activities are scheduled to commence during the second half of 2026, with the upgraded system expected to enter service by mid-2027.

The modernised platform will provide a minimum of 400 Gbps of aggregated capacity from launch and has been designed to scale to multiple terabits per second, thus supporting the increasing requirements for cloud services, digital business operations, international communications, and emerging technologies across Malta’s economy.

Commissioned in 2008, the GO-1 submarine cable connects Malta directly to Sicily and forms a key component of the country’s international telecommunications infrastructure.