GO final

4 The Sunday Times of Malta JULY 23, 2017
interview
Delivering what the
consumer needs
Our commitment is to bring the best available technology
to Malta, says Attila Keszeg, GO Chief Executive Officer.
On June 1, GO appointed Attila Keszeg as
Chief Executive Officer. He has had a dynamic
high profile career - prior to this appointment,
he was Senior Vice President
Commercial at Deutsche Telekom AG, responsible
for the overall business to consumer
activities in 12 countries. His
experience also includes five years as General
Manager for Red Bull Hungary. He joins GO
at a most interesting time.
Q: You have made quite a transition from
a large organisation with oversight for a
number central European markets to a
relatively small, Mediterranean market,
albeit one with a regional dimension.
What was it that attracted you to GO?
Attila Keszeg: Malta is a respected member
of the EU, and rapidly experiencing many
of the trends and influences one can observe
in mainland Europe.
The Maltese telecommunications market
will soon arrive at a crossroads, and will require
a transformational effort from market
players to live up to the twin challenges of expansionist
global players and rapidly evolving
customer demand.
After several years at the head office of a
multinational company, I was looking for a CEO
level operational challenge. GO is a great company,
with excellent fundamentals and experienced
people. I am looking forward to making
my own contribution to GO’s ongoing transformation
as the best service provider in Malta.
Q: What are your first impressions of the
market, as well as of the people and culture
here in Malta?
AK: Clearly, Maltese society still embraces
strong traditional values, the result of your
history and enviable heritage. People here
care about each other.
However, the Maltese are resilient fighters,
survivors who can rally round and protect
common ground. One observes a strong
work ethic and high standards.
GO is not only an essential part of the local
fabric and a fantastic national brand but it
also sums up what Malta is all about – tough,
rooted in strong values, outward-looking,
perfectly capable of rising to the challenges
of the future.
“GO is not only an
essential part of
the local fabric
and a fantastic
national brand
but it also sums
up what Malta is
all about”
Q: All the network operators seem to
claim they are the best and fastest. What’s
your own view on this and how does GO
compare say on mobile network speed and
reliability?
AK: The telecommunications industry is
driven by technology, which evolves continuously.
As operators inevitably follow different
investment cycles, their capabilities continue
to change.
There are, however, two important facts
that we need to be clear about. Firstly, fibreto-the-home,
which only GO is rolling out is
the best available fixed line technology in the
world. All major global players are investing
in fibre. Some of our competitors have
broadly available cable coverage, which is
good technology, but one generation older
then ours. With this technology they are still
able to temporarily claim a speed advantage
in those areas where fibre has not yet been
deployed. But in areas covered by fibre our
speed advantage is undisputed and will remain
so in the future.
Secondly, GO has the fastest, broadest, best
mobile network in Malta. This is a fact which
was recently confirmed by Net Check, an internationally
recognised independent certifying
agency. GO’s mobile network is
superior, particularly when it comes to data,
because ours is the only network which is entirely
connected by fibre.
Our major mobile competitor is talking
about future capabilities, and some test operations
in some areas of Gozo.
But the truth is that GO is ready to launch
4G+ as soon as the regulatory bodies allocate
the necessary frequency bands required for
enhanced services. Going forward, GO is determined
to ensure we remain the fastest
network across Malta.
GO Chief Executive Officer Attila Keszeg
Q: GO has embarked on some pretty
major investments such as fibre to the
home. Is this on track and will you pursue
it further?
AK: GO’s commitment is to bring the best
available technology to Malta – we always
did, we always will. Over a span of five years
or so, our cumulative investment in fibre and
4G technology as well as in systems and IT infrastructure
is indeed significant, exceeding
€200 million. This makes us the largest investor
in the telecommunications industry in
this market and probably one of the largest
investors in the Maltese economy.
Additionally, we are also investing in Maltese
IT companies, and expanding GO’s skill
base. GO employs either directly or indirectly,
over 1,200 Maltese people, and we
enjoy the trust of some 8,500 shareholders
via the Malta Stock Exchange. We always
were – and aspire to remain – the largest in-