Melita has started laying a fibre-optic submarine cable to Sicily in a €10 million project which will give Malta the fourth communications gateway to Italy.
The project kicked off last year, when a detailed survey of the seabed was carried out to determine the route which the cable will follow.
Following an international tendering process, the project was entrusted to a consortium formed by NSW and Italtel Group.
Melita said this project was part of a long-term investment to provide an enhanced experience to its clients, catering for the increased technological needs of the local market.
Malcolm Briffa, Melita’s Head of Marketing, said the commencement of the works was a major milestone in Melita’s drive for a fully integrated network.
Currently, Melita has over 50,000 customers subscribed to its broadband internet service.
Malta is currently connected to Sicily thanks to two submarine cables operated by GO and another operated by Vodafone.
The new cable links the Melita headend at Madliena via Baħar ic-Cagħaq and Pozzallo in Sicily.