[attach id=258449 size="medium"]Go CCO Markus Golder.[/attach]
What are your views on the local mobile industry and what are Go’s efforts within this segment?
Some of the answers to this question have been published by the Malta Communications Authority in its latest Communication Market Review for July to December 2012.
By the end of this period, there were 539,452 mobile subscriptions, which translate into a mobile penetration rate of 129.2 per cent, an increase of 3.8 percentage points over the previous year. More importantly, the number of active mobile broadband connections more than tripled in the 12 months to July 2012, driven mainly by the adoption of 3G-enabled smartphones.
Despite this growth, mobile internet penetration in Malta is still significantly below EU average. With the most robust and resilient mobile network in Malta, Go is uniquely positioned to cater to the expected increase in demand and usage in this segment.
We are able to cater not only for existing, but also future demand
What does this mean to mobile users?
Late last year, the company completed the widespread overhaul of its mobile network, which was part of a €100 million investment programme.
This involved a complete replacement of the entire GSM and 3G radio infrastructure with new, state-of-the-art equipment.
The quantity of mobile transmission sites has also increased, giving Go’s customers the benefit of a superior mobile experience for both voice and data.
Go is now well placed to provide the best mobile internet experience in Malta. In fact, the company leads the market with download speeds reaching 42Mbps and takes pride in being the only provider in Malta whose entire network of base stations is linked via fibre, making it the most robust and resilient network.
This means we are able to cater not only for existing, but also future demand, by placing Go’s mobile infrastructure capability at 3.5G and LTE ready. Future consumer mobile usage behaviour will put a heavy demand on networks and that’s where our new infrastructure excels.
You have launched four new mobile plans under the Limitless brand. What is new and why should consumers care?
The definition of limitless is no restrictions and no boundaries and that’s exactly what our new range of mobile plans is about. Packages are designed around one principle: a limitless solution.
Today, the typical mobile user wants limitless access, limitless internet and limitless access when abroad. Our new mobile packages address these needs, fitting the different needs of mobile users. They give customers infinite calling and texting to mobile numbers as well as the most generous data allowances to surf the web over Malta’s leading mobile network.
The two top-of-the-range products offer truly limitless calls and SMS to any network. This means customers no longer have to worry which network their friends are using when they call. Limitless 60 comes with limitless calls and texting to all local numbers and 4GB mobile internet for €60 monthly.
Limitless 99 offers more and is the ideal solution for frequent travellers. At €99 monthly, this mobile plan includes not only limitless calls and SMSs to all local numbers and a massive 8GB mobile internet allowance, but also 100 minutes for calls to EU networks and lavish roaming benefits to contact home while abroad.
The latter give customers 100 minutes of calling to numbers in Malta, 100 SMSs and 50MB of data every month while roaming in Europe. Limitless 99 customers are eligible for a free iPhone 5 with a two-year agreement. In addition, they also enjoy privileged treatment when calling Go’s 24/7 Customer Care and a smartphone care pack, which entitles them to free smartphone repair or to benefit from a replacement smartphone in cases where the smartphone has had an out-of-warranty fault.
Limitless 35, the mid-range product, gives customers limitless calls to all G0 fixed and mobile numbers and limitless SMS to Go mobile numbers.
Moreover, customers will benefit from 75 minutes and 75 SMSs to all other numbers. The plan includes 2GB mobile internet.
Go is also proud to introduce Limitless Flex, an innovative concept that gives customers total control over their spend. For €20 monthly, customers get limitless calls to Go mobile numbers, €10 credit to spend as they wish and 300MB mobile internet every month. Any unused credit is carried over from one month to the next.
If customers run out of credit with Limitless Flex, they can easily top up at any time using any of Go’s existing top-up mechanisms. With Limitless Flex customers have the peace of mind that their monthly bill will not exceed €20. Limitless Flex is a truly no-commitment, no-strings-attached mobile plan.
Do customers have to commit to a fixed contract term to benefit from the new offers?
No, customers may sign up to any of the Limitless packages with or without a fixed-term agreement.
The offers come with an optional one or two-year contract, which also includes an array of free smartphones, starting with the brand new Samsung S5300 for the €35 plan to the iPhone 5 for the €99 package.
Go was the first provider in the market to introduce special benefits for customers who opt to buy all the telecom services in a bundle. How does Limitless fit in here?
Go’s Home Pack has been very successful indeed. With the launch of Limitless, Home Pack customers not only benefit from top-notch and affordable phone, internet and television services at home, but also enjoy discounts on their monthly mobile access fee.
Limitless is available at a monthly discount of €9 for Limitless 99 customers, €5 for Limitless 60 customers and €3 for Limitless 35 customers.