Changes: Malta

Revision as of 14:29, 7 September 2017

Basics

The islands of Malta and Gozo have three network operators:

Vodafone (to be merged with Melita)
GO
Melita (to be merged with Vodafone)

2G is on 900 and 1800 MHz, 3G on 2100 MHz and 4G/LTE on Vodafone's and Go's 1800 MHz frequency. Vodafone is in the lead with 44% market share in 2015, followed by GO with 39% and Melia with 15% only. Only one MVNO has started so far called Redtouch.

In May 2017 Vodafone and Melita agreed to a merger. Depending approval of the competition authorities, the two networks will be united under the Vodafone brand. The new company will control 62% of the mobile market then.

Prepaid in Malta is often refered as pay as you go like in the UK.

Malta is part of the EU, where from June 2017 new international roaming rules are enforced. In most European countries you can now 'roam like at home' at domestic rates, rather than excessive roaming rates. Maltese providers have implemented the regulation without any restrictions. For specifics about the new regulation check the European Union chapter and every provider below.

Vodafone

Vodafone Malta is market leader with the best coverage on the island. Vodafone Coverage. It started 4G/LTE in 2013 on 1800 MHz and covers already 99% of population at the end of 2015 opened on most prepaid products. In 2017 Vodafone agreed to be merged with Melita in the upcoming years.

Availability

You can purchase a pay-as-you-go SIM at any Vodafone location (store list). There is one store in the arrival hall of Malta airport. This outlet will sell a 20 EUR starter pack containing a SIM card pre-loaded with 5 EUR of text/phone credit and 1 GB of data. Standard SIMs, micro SIMs and nano SIMs are available from all Vodafone retail stores. Resellers might not stock all sizes.

Top-ups can be added to the account to purchase additional data or phone time; instructions are printed on the starter pack itself. Note that only one data block should be added at a time; adding two at once (e.g. adding a 10 GB data block and then a 300 MB data block right afterwards will cause the first one to be cancelled out). There are 9 Vodafone retail stores on Malta and one on Gozo. Various resellers are located on both islands. Top-up vouchers of 5, 10, 20 or 50 EUR may be purchased at many retailers (convenience stores, etc). Check balance by *123#.

Vodafone Pop

In 2015 they changed their portfolio of the prepaid SIM cards that may not be so convenient for data users anymore. All SIMs are called POP now and have a monthly combo base plan. Start-up price is the monthly fee:

POP Easy: 100 domestic mins or SMS, 50 MB data for 28 days: 9.60 EUR
POP Talk: 100 domestic mins or SMS, 1000 Vodafone mins, 50 MB data for 28 days: 14.40 EUR
POP Smart: 100 domestic mins or SMS, 1000 Vodafone SMS, 500 MB data for 28 days: 14.40 EUR
POP Star: 100 domestic mins or SMS, 1000 Vodafone mins, 1000 Vodafone SMS, 500 MB data for 30 days: 20.80 EUR

All plans are on 4G/LTE too. To activate text EASY, TALK, SMART or STAR to 16200. All plans auto-renew. To unsubscribe, text STOP <plan name> to 16200.

Default data rate

Out of bundle rate is 2 EUR per 100 MB. This rate will commence once all data allowance within the plan is consumed and will continue to recur until a totality of 3.2 GB. Any data above this limit will be charged at the rate of 10c per MB.

Data feature packs

These packages for more data can be added to the POP base plans:

Price	Data	Time	Activation
€1.00	250 MB	24 hours	LDAY
€3.00	300 MB	7 days	300MB
€5.00	1 GB	7 days	1GB
€20.00	3 GB	30 days	ALMONTH
€25.00	10 GB	30 days	10GB

For activation text code to 16200. All add-ons auto-renew, except the daily bundle. To stop text STOP<code> to 16200. To check usage send a empty free SMS to 16290. Overuse is charged on the default rate.

EU roaming

As from June 2017, you are able to use your mobile plan while roaming in the EU just like you would if you were in Malta, at no extra cost. The Roam Like At Home upgrades are automatically added and enabled by default.

More info

APN: Internet /or/ Connect
Username and Password: Internet /or/ connect

Website: http://www.vodafone.com.mt

GO Mobile

GO Mobile is the big rival of Vodafone on the island giving good coverage and speeds too. 4G/LTE started in December 2015 and covers 60% of population (4G coverage map), and available for Pay as you Go users as well. At the moment it's expanding its fibre-optic 4G network.

Availability

There are six Go Mobile retail stores on Malta and one on Gozo. A store is located within the Baystreet Complex in tourist-friendly St Julians. Various authorized resellers are located on both islands. The store locator on the Go Mobile website has more details.

Pay as you GO Starter packs are sold for 15 EUR containing 1 GB of data and 5 EUR credit. Activate by calling 149 free of charge. All new SIM cards come in triple format.

Top-up vouchers of 5, 10, 20, or 50 EUR may be purchased at many retailers. When you top up 10 EUR you get 100 MB bonus, for 20 EUR you get 250 MB bonus valid for one month by texting TOPSAVER to 16414 before topping up.

Combo plans

Go offers three Pay as you GO combo plans all valid for 28 days:

Go Text: 500 MB, unlimited SMS: 8 € - activation: GOTEXT
Go Talk: 500 MB, 60 mins: 8 € - activation: GOTALK
Go Data: 1 GB, 60 mins, unlimited SMS: 15 € - activation: GODATA

For activation, text code to 16410. It will auto-renew. All allowances can be used in Malta and the EU. You can also stay on the base plan and add data. Additional usage is charged at 2 EUR per 100 MB.

Data feature packs

The Pay as you GO plan has a default rate of 0.10 EUR per 1 MB. If you are using mobile internet for the very first time, after purchasing the bundles below, send ‘internet' to 16413, to connect to the internet on your mobile. These data packages for 28 days are available:

Price	Data	Activation
€ 5	500 MB	500MB
€ 8	1 GB	1GB
€ 20	6 GB	6GB

For activation text code to 16410. Provided there is sufficient credit on your account, bundles are automatically renewed upon their expiry date. To stop text STOP <bundle size> to the respective number. If the bundle is consumed before the time window expires, you can buy another bundle by sending an SMS with the codes and to the respective SMS number as indicated above.

To keep track of your bundle usage, send a blank SMS to 16415 for free.

EU roaming

All allowances can be used for roaming in the EU under "roam like at home" rules. The same 0.10 € per MB applies as standard rate outside packages.

More info

APN: gointernet /or/ gosurfing /or/ rtgsurfing

Website: http://www.go.com.mt

Melita

Melita is Malta's smallest provider on 3G in 2100 MHz, 4G/LTE has not started yet. It offers good speed, where available and quite agressive pricing.

In 2017 Melita agreed to a merger with the Vodafone network and the Melita brand will be subsequently dropped for mobile offers in the next years pending governmental approval.

Availability

They have two prepaid starter packs available called "Flex Telephony" at their shops list for around 10 EUR plus tax. Standard SIMs, micro SIMs and nano SIMs can be obtained directly from Melita's retail shops. Resellers may not stock all variants.

Top-ups can be purchased at a lot of more retailers (select town on list): for 5 EUR with a 30 days validity or for 10 EUR with a 90 days validity.

Combo plans

Melita offers three monthly base plans for a minimum top-up, which can be added by more data:

Unlimited top-up plan: € 10 top-up, no mobile data included
Tentastic 100 MB top-up plan: € 10 top-up, 100 MB and lower domestic call and text rates
Tentastic 300 MB top-up plan: € 20 top-up, 300 MB and lower domestic call and text rates

The minimal monthly top-up is a requirement for the plans above. It's not consumed, but fully available for calls, text or data.

Data feature packs

Default rate is 0.10 EUR per MB. Data bundles can be purchased. These are renewed automatically unless stopped by sending blank SMS to 16852.

Price	Data	Validity	Activation
€ 0.50	50 MB	0:00h-23.59h	blank SMS to 16850
€ 2.50	350 MB	7 days	blank SMS to 16855
€ 5	1 GB	30 days	blank SMS to 16860

You can check the remaining balance of your data bundle by sending a blank SMS to 16830 (free of charge) at any time. If the bundle has been consumed before expiry, you can purchase another data bundle. The expiry date of the new bundle will be refreshed according to the latest bundle purchased.

EU roaming

From June 15^th 2017 when you travel within the EU you’ll be able to use your phone as you do in Malta, without extra charges, and incoming calls or SMS will be free. If your plan includes allowances your usage abroad in the EU will be counted exactly as if you were at home in Malta, and if you use more than your monthly allowance any charges will be charged as if you are in Malta.

More info

APN: web.melita

Website: http://www.melita.com

Redtouch Fone

Redtouch Fone is the first MVNO in Malta using the Vodafone network in 2G and 3G service, no 4G/LTE yet. Some think that Redtouch is more of a cute quirk rather than an operator to seriously consider. It’s a virtual operator owned by one of the country’s two major political parties. It's supposed to have a terribly bad service and is mainly aimed at the party faithful.

Availability

Redtouch has a low profile on the island. You can buy the SIM card only in a few stores (address). Standard SIMs can be obtained directly from RedTouch Phone shops. There, the SIM card can be cut to suit your needs.

They have 4 top up denominations: €5, €10, €20, €30. You can use an e-top-up or online on the web in your personal account using a credit card. Credit is lost and line suspended, if no top-up is made within 365 days.

They have three "payless" monthly combo plans, but they don't include data. So better stick to the default Surf&Enjoy.

Data feature packages

Data outside of packages is on a high default rate of € 0.42 per MB. Better add one of these monthly packages valid for 30 days:

Price	Data	Activation
€ 3.50	250 MB	1250250#
€ 5	512 MB	1250512#
€ 15	3 GB	12503000#

You can check the remaining balance of you data bundle by dialling *126#. If the bundle has been consumed before expiry, you can purchase another data bundle. The expiry date of the new bundle will be refreshed according to the latest bundle purchased.

More info

Roam like at home rules are applied. EU roaming is at domestic rates.

APN: internet.redtouch.eu

Website: http://redtouch.com.mt/

@@ Line 126: / Line 126: @@
 =='''Melita'''==
 [[File:Melita-0.jpg|thumb|190x190px]]
-Melita is Malta's smallest provider on 2G in 900 MHz and 3G in 2100 MHz, 4G/LTE has not started yet. It offers good speed, where available and quite agressive pricing.
+Melita is Malta's smallest provider on 3G in 2100 MHz, 4G/LTE has not started yet. It offers good speed, where available and quite agressive pricing.
 In 2017 Melita agreed to a merger with the Vodafone network and the Melita brand will be subsequently dropped for mobile offers in the next years pending governmental approval.