Basics
The islands of Malta and Gozo have three network operators:
- Vodafone
- GO
- Melita
2G is on 900 and 1800 MHz, 3G on 2100 MHz and 4G/LTE on Vodafone's and Go's 1800 MHz frequency. Vodafone has 44% market share in 2015, followed by GO with 39% and Melia with 15% only. GO announced 4G/LTE for the end of 2015, but has not started yet.
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
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. There are 9 Vodafone retail stores on Malta and one on Gozo. Various resellers are located on both islands.
Top-ups
Top-up vouchers of 5, 10, 20 or 50 EUR may be purchased at many retailers. When you top up 10 EUR you get 50 MB bonus, for 20 EUR you get 200 MB bonus by texting SMSWEB to 16200.
Vodafone Pop
In December 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 plans
| Price | Data | Time | Activation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 EUR | 250 MB | 24 hours | LDAY |
| 3 EUR | 300 MB | 7 days | 300MB |
| 5 EUR | 1 GB | 1GB | |
| 20 EUR | 3 GB | 30 days | ALMONTH |
| 25 EUR | 10 GB | 10GB |
For activation text code to 16200. All add-ons auto-renew, but 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.
Data-only SIM
For 25 € a data-only prepaid plan is sold. It contains 10 GB at a max. of 42 Mbps, valid for 30 days. Its out of bundle rate stays at 0.10 EUR per MB. More data can be added by these add-ons:
- 100 MB, 7 days: 1.50 € - activation: '100MB' to 16200
- 300 MB, 7 days: 3 € - activation '300MB' to 16200
- 1 GB, 7 days: 5 € - activatiob '1GB' to 16200
- 10 GB, 30 days: 25 € - activation: '10GB' to 16200
Activation is by texting code or online on your account. All packages auto-renew. To stop go to your account or text STOP<code> to 16200.
SIM sizes
Standard SIMs, micro SIMs and nano SIMs are available from all Vodafone retail stores. Resellers might not stock all sizes.
Technical details
- APN: Internet /or/ Connect
- Username and Password: Internet /or/ connect
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 cover 60% of population (4G coverage map), but is not yet available for prepaid users.
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.
Starter packs are sold for 15 EUR containing 1 GB of data and 5 EUR credit. Activate by calling 149 free of charge.
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.
Data feature packs
The prepaid base plan has a default rate of 0.10 EUR per 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.
| Price | Data Allowance | Time | Activation code |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 EUR | 500 MB | 28 days | 500MB to 16410 |
| 8 EUR | 1 GB | 28 days | 1GB to 16410 |
| 20 EUR | 6 GB | 28 days | 6GB 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.
SIM sizes
Standard SIMs and micro SIMs are available. Nano SIMs are not available but may be cut.
Technical details
APN: gointernet /or/ gosurfing /or/ rtgsurfing
Melita
Melita is a Malta's smallest provider starting as 3G only on 2100 MHz. In 2013 it received a 900 MHz license for 2G. 4G has not started yet. It offers good speed where available and agressive pricing: Melita Coverage Map
Availability
They have two prepaid starter packs available called "Flex Telephony" at their shops list for around 10 EUR plus tax.
Top ups can be purchased at a lot of more retailers (list):
- 5 EUR with a 30 days validity
- 10 EUR with a 90 days validity
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 Volume | Time | Activation |
| 0.50 EUR | 50 MB | 0:00h-23.59h | blank SMS to 16850 |
| 2.50 EUR | 350 MB | 7 days | blank SMS to 16855 |
| 4.50 EUR | 600 MB | 30 days | blank SMS to 16860 |
| 12 EUR | 2 GB | 30 days | blank SMS to 16802 |
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.
SIM sizes
Standard SIMs, Micro SIMs and nano SIMs can be obtained directly from Melita's retail shops. Resellers may not stock all variants.
Technical details
APN: web.melita