Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/904009
maltatoday SUNDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2017 News 13 The HSBC Premier Mastercard is not only about new looks. It now includes contactless technology which lets you pay for everyday small items without the need for cash or the need to enter your PIN every time. The HSBC Premier Mastercard also gives you access to Mastercard's World programme which offers exceptional benefits related to travel, dining, shopping and other services you've come to expect from your Mastercard. Find out more at hsbc.com.mt/premier Goodbye cash, hello contactless payments with the HSBC Premier Mastercard Approved and issued by HSBC Bank Malta p.l.c., 116, Archbishop Street, Valletta VLT1444. HSBC Bank Malta p.l.c. is licensed by the MFSA to conduct investment service business and is enrolled as a tied insurance intermediary of HSBC Life Assurance (Malta) Ltd. Subject to account opening criteria. 97768-10/2017 REQ NO: 98923 Ultra-fast internet in Malta The fastest current mobile data connection in Malta is Vodafone Malta's 4G+, which started be- ing rolled out in June this year, and can offer download speeds of up to 210Mb/s. GO offers 4G on selected plans, which can provide aver- age download speeds of around 80Mb/s, and it plans to roll out 4G+ soon. Melita currently only offers 3G, which can reach download speeds of around 3-7Mb/s. They plan to make 4G speeds avail- able some time in 2018, or ear- lier that same year in case of a merger with Vodafone. Vodafone Malta aim to start offering 5G to their customers by 2020, in line with EU gigabit internet targets. There is still no word about cost. As customers might some- times know through experience, real world speeds can be sig- nificantly lower than theoretical ones, especially depending on coverage in the area. You will also require a 3G or 4G capable phone if you are to use these existing technologies. When it comes to home inter- net, GO offers speeds of up to 200Mb/s over fibre, but avail- ability of this depends on fibre- optic cable connectivity in your area. GO also launched a 1Gb/s fixed internet service for busi- nesses last week. The fastest home connection was launched just this week, by Melita, and offers a 1Gb/s con- nection to customers in Val- letta, Sliema and St Julian's, with plans to extend it nationwide. Melita also offers a 250Mb/s connection, available all across the island. Crucial to the success of giga- bit internet will be the coverage of mobile connections across the country, and the stability of fixed business and home ser- vices. NATIONALIST Party MEP Rob- erta Metsola has rubbished sug- gestions put forth by Labour Par- ty MEPs Alfred Sant and Miriam Dalli that the PN delegation has criticised the rule of law in Malta while closing an eye on Hungary. Metsola has defended the party by saying that whenever the situ- ation in Hungary was discussed in the European Parliament, the PN delegation has always called for action to protect the rule of law. The only time the European Parliament voted to call for an investigation into Hungary was on 17 May 2017. "The PN delega- tion voted in favour of action to protect the rule of law," Metsola said in a press release. "Labour MEP Sant did not, and MEP Miz- zi quickly changed her vote after apparently making a mistake. The sheer hypocrisy is striking but sadly, not surprising." When Prime Minister Orban visited the European Parliament, Metsola challenged the law di- rectly, explicitly stating that the EPP believes in "will always de- fend the values [of freedom of speech] whenever and wherever they are under threat, whether it is corruption in Malta by the Government, the watering down of the rule of law in Romania; institutions under pressure in Poland; or what is happening in Hungary," "This is what we stand for. Our values have stood the test of time and they are not up for negotia- tion." Metsola went on to say that dur- ing the debate, Dalli and Sant did not speak. "For them, silence on the protection of the rule of law is the norm," she said. In the press release, Metsola said that the European Parliament has had hearings on, and sent del- egations to, Hungary. She accused Miriam Dalli of wanting to go on a trip to Hungary in order to use the trip to imply that the PN del- egation is not firm on the issue of Hungary. "Labour think they can fool all the people all the time. They can't." Metsola rubbishes Labour MEPs' claims hinting at PN being lax on Hungary Roberta Metsola