Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1186724
21.11.19 6 NEWS GREENPAK'S network of 800 smart iB- iNs installed in 41 localities won the first place in the fifth edition of the Sustaina- ble Enterprise Awards organised by the Ministry for the Economy, Investment and Small Businesses (MEIB). GreenPak Cooperative Society was awarded the overall prize for its efforts to increase the social, environmental and economical sustainability pillars. e use of these attractive containers increased sharply, registering a sharp rise in the collection of post-consumer products including plastic, paper, glass, and metal waste for recycling during 2019. Fitted with smart technology, the iBiNs provide citizens with a simpler and more convenient way to recycle 24/7. Looking ahead at future trends in the Maltese society and steering the need to recycle more as a country, GreenPak in- vested in smart bins to address current needs and be ready for the future Smart Cities. e iBiNs project utilises the emerg- ing latest technology of IoT (Internet of ings). It has the capability to mon- itor waste levels and feed information back to a central system using real-time data which enables GreenPak' recycling service to prioritise and customise col- lection routes in the localities it serves across Malta and Gozo. Using the iBiNs interactive web app, ib- ins.greenpak.com.mt, and selecting the colour-coded image of the iBiN, the pub- lic is directed via a Google Map interface to go straight to the nearest iBiN that has sufficient empty space to take their recycling materials. is app is avoiding unnecessary traffic movements, includ- ing a reduction of collection truck trips on the road, resulting in lower exhaust emissions. "e public's feedback on their expe- rience using the iBiNs' app has been very positive. People find the app very user-friendly and supported by a 24/7 service. e iBiNs project is contributing in a meaningful way towards the envi- ronmental, economic and social pillars of society," said Ing Mario Schembri, GreenPak's CEO. "Following the public's endorsement and support, GreenPak welcomes the of- ficial recognition by the MEIB who have adjudged the iBiNs project as the best sustainable project for 2019 implement- ed voluntarily by private enterprise." e iBiNs project is an investment of €700,000, of which €200,000 has been financed by the European Regional De- velopment Fund under Operational Programme I 2014-2020 'Fostering a competitive and sustainable economy to meet our challenges', supported through the Business Enhance ERDF Grant Schemes Initiative. GreenPak secures top recognition at Sustainable Enterprise Awards 2019 GreenPak CEO Ing Mario Schembri receiving the first overall trophy from Minister Chris Cardona in the presence of GreenPak's team. From left: Daniel Tabone, Denise Brincat and Christine Demanuele MELITA Limited has just com- pleted two key investments which will see the company growing fur- ther in the B2B segment, with a focus on international customers. ese are the opening of a new data centre facility to provide cli- ents with secondary or disaster recovery capabilities, and the re- cent launch of Internet of ings (IoT) connectivity services across Europe. Pan-European IoT services are being provided through melita.io, which last week unveiled its ded- icated customer portal, designed and developed in Malta for use by international and local clients. e new melita.io platform was demonstrated to Silvio Schembri, Parliamentary Secretary for Finan- cial Services, Digital Economy and Innovation, during a visit to Meli- ta's technical facility in Madliena; the hub for all Melita services. Whilst using international net- works to deliver its IoT services beyond Malta, local clients have the additional benefits provided by Melita's nationwide narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) network. NB-IoT of- fers several benefits to businesses which need to connect equipment across their operations: extreme- ly low power consumption, the range of the signal and its ability to reach far below ground or sea level. ese characteristics pres- ent a far greater range of options for IoT solutions – such as parking sensors and connected rat traps in the lowest levels of underground car parks. Harald Roesch, CEO at Melita, explained, "Melita has invested heavily in infrastructure; we now have one of the most powerful networks in Europe, making Malta the only country with nationwide NB-IoT, gigabit internet and 4.5G mobile networks. is investment is having a positive impact on Mal- ta's economy as evidenced by the recent EY Attractiveness Survey where 72 per cent of respondents said the telecommunications in- frastructure was a main pull fac- tor in persuading them to invest here. is result is something we're proud to have contributed to, just as we are proud to be able to use our technology and exper- tise in areas such as IoT, in order to turn a Maltese business into an international provider of telecom services". Schembri said, "As a Govern- ment we believe that the absolute drive for innovation and the em- brace of new concepts is the way forward for the private sector at this exciting time in our history. Telecommunications; in this case, telecommunications service pro- viders as partners in our bid to re- main one step ahead of the digital revolution. I commend Melita for its laudable endeavor as part of their efforts to put the client at the heart of their operations." Schembri's visit also included a tour of the Madliena Prima- ry Data Centre, which is built to Tier III specifications and the only purpose-built facility in Malta. It covers a fully-fenced footprint of 10,000 square metres, making it the island's largest facility. e strategically-chosen site is a sol- itary building situated on high- ground. It is detached from the main traffic arteries, does not pose flooding risks and does not sit un- der any aircraft flight paths, thus meeting and exceeding the strin- gent levels of security required. Melita launches new data centre and international platform for Internet of Things