Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/977918
49 Events maltatoday SUNDAY 6 MAY 2018 Vodafone in pole position to extend 4.5G network and ramp up speeds VODAFONE Malta is in pole position to extend its 4.5 network and ramp up speeds in the lead-up to a future 5G rollout after acquiring the largest spectrum holding. Vodafone welcomes the Malta Commu- nications Authority's recent decision to award licences for spectrum in the 800 MHz and 2.6 GHz spectrum bands in Malta. Spectrum is the most critical stra- tegic asset for any mobile operator's busi- ness and, quite simply, relates to a range of radio frequencies allocated to the mobile industry for communication over the air- waves. Vodafone Malta has acquired a total of 105Mhz unpaired spectrum across both the 800Mhz and the 2.6Ghz bands, the largest allocation out of that given to the three mobile operators. "This means that we can continue to connect more people, provide deeper in- door coverage for mobile data users, of- fer faster speeds and ultimately provide cutting-edge products to our custom- ers. Therefore, the recent MCA decision will support Vodafone Supernet to offer the best experience for our customers in Malta," Chief Technology Officer Sheila Kavanagh explained. "Having acquired the best possible spec- trum combinations will also allow us to take advantage of some very interesting future leading edge capabilities and tech- nologies on both our current 4.5G net- work and on a future 5G network." Last summer, Vodafone was first to launch its unique 4.5G network which continues to be up to 60 per cent faster than any other mobile network in Malta. Last October, the company also show- cased the foundations for 5G technology by trialling breakthrough gigabit speeds on its mobile network – meaning that a 90 minute full-HD movie can be down- loaded in a little over 30 seconds. 5G technology also promises to open up new, exciting possibilities for busi- nesses as it is uniquely suited to handle the growing connectivity needs of the In- ternet of Things (IoT) thanks to its low la- tency. The technology promises to usher in the next era of immersive experiences with faster, more uniform data rates at lower latency, thus enabling a host of machine-to-machine applications, such as vehicles benefitting from information received from roadside sensors as well as other vehicles. "On top of this, we are also delighted to announce that, for the third time over the past few years, Vodafone has been independently certified by P3 as the best mobile network in Malta," Ms Kavanagh said. The recent P3 network benchmark exer- cise was run over 10 days with extensive data and voice sample testing across all three operators to independently deter- mine the best network. Vodafone scored the highest result with a score of 868, with the next nearest competitors scor- ing 810 and 395 respectively, positioning Vodafone as a clear leader in the market. Vodafone Supernet not only offers cus- tomers the best network in Malta but provides the most extensive global reach when travelling, with 4G roaming in over 120 countries. A new look for Burger King Paceville MINISTER for Transport, Infra- structure and Capital Projects Ian Borg launched the Express Road Safety Campaign, which is being led by Express Trailers, aimed at promoting more responsible road sharing. Minister Borg reiterated his be- lief in continuous education to- wards safer roads and described the campaign as a versatile one which reaches different sectors of soci- ety. The Minister explained that a company such as this, which oper- ates in a sector directly related to transport, has a greater potential of reaching audiences within the same industry, and commended the incentive they are proposing to encourage similar companies to come up with their own initiatives towards road safety. Addressing the launch of the campaign, the Chairman and CEO of Express Trailers, Franco Azzopardi said "our company is regarded as the leading respected transport and logistics operator in Malta. Although we deploy a large fleet of trucks, trailers and vans to deliver most of our essential day to day commodities, we acknowledge that we are also a nuisance on the road. Therefore, we decided that we wanted to take an active role in the community and we felt that pro- moting road safety would be most in line with our operations as active road users. The Minister commended the company for the initiative, for their general commitment to road safety in their operation and praised their decision to consult with Transport Malta and the Malta Road Safety Council towards ensuring that more benefits are reaped from the campaign. Franco Azzopardi expressed the company's commitment, through its team of drivers, to advocate more actively in favour of road safety on Malta's roads. "Our drivers are our foremost ambassadors on the road and we take safety very seriously. This campaign will be a celebration of this commitment," concluded Franco Azzopardi. Pierre Vella from the Malta Road Safety Council commended the fact that a private company like Express Trailers was taking the initiative to launch a road safety awareness campaign on a national level and reiterated the Road Safety Council's support to ensure the effectiveness of this campaign. "Everyone is a road user, and therefore, everyone is being called to act responsibly on the road. Ensuring that our roads are safe should not only be the duty of the authorities or policy makers, but it is high time that everyone un- derstands that on the road, we are all vulnerable and we can all con- tribute by reducing speed, avoid- ing dangerous manoeuvres and re- specting driving regulations." Express Road Safety Campaign pushes education for safer roads THE Burger King restaurant in Paceville re-opened its doors to customers on Saturday 28th April, following an extensive re- furbishment. The iconic Burger King out- let now features a fresh design showcasing a warm, eye-catch- ing aesthetic. In keeping with Food Chain's commitment to provide its guests with an excel- lent dining experience that rivals casual dining, the interior décor incorporates natural materials with a bright colour palette, to create a more inviting ambiance, highlighted by complimentary lighting. The timeless brand is revived with distinctive, food-focused graphics and a variety of com- fortable seating options for guests. The Paceville outlet is the first local outlet to be refur- bished to the latest Burger King design. Burger King is operated in Malta by Food Chain Limited, a member of the Farsons Group, with outlets in Paceville, Sliema, Mosta, Qormi and Malta Inter- national Airport.