Vodafone has embarked on maintenance of its underwater communications cable, redirecting its international traffic and bandwidth requirements to Go's cable.

A spokesman said Vodafone's internet services to customers will not be affected because the contingency plan signed between the company and Go provided for alternative routing on each other's cables.

The company only announced the extensive works yesterday even though the Malta Communications Authority confirmed that works started over the weekend.

In a statement Vodafone said it initiated "precautionary maintenance" on its submarine cable in the aftermath of the events that unfolded in December, when Go's submarine cable was extensively damaged.

Damage to various submarine cables, including Go's, in December had disrupted internet and international telephone services in Malta and parts of the Middle East and southern Asia.

"Originally, the December incidents leading to damages to the fibre optic cables in the Mediterranean did not affect Vodafone's service," a company spokesman said.

"In the interest of the need to maintain national connectivity, Vodafone did not start the precautionary inspection and the necessary maintenance on its cable immediately, but instead provided Go with alternative routing."

With Go's cable fully repaired, Vodafone has now embarked on its own maintenance work.

Internet and mobile phone service providers offering international connectivity are now obliged to have a back-up plan in case of a fault developing in submarine cables linking Malta to the continent.

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