Internet & Mobile Providers in Malta: Complete Guide for Digital Nomads

Reliable internet is non-negotiable for digital nomads. Malta delivers surprisingly well here—the island has excellent fiber coverage, competitive mobile networks, and widespread WiFi. This guide covers everything you need to know about getting connected: home internet options, mobile providers, eSIM choices, and the best spots to work when you need a change of scenery.

Understanding Malta's Telecom Market

Malta has three main telecommunications providers, each with distinct strengths:

• GO Malta — The established incumbent, owns the fiber infrastructure
• Melita — Cable provider with competitive bundles, strong on TV
• Epic — Mobile-first disruptor with the lowest prices

Unlike many countries where telecom is a nightmare, Malta's market is genuinely competitive. All three providers offer solid service, reasonable prices, and decent customer support (though you'll still encounter some bureaucracy). Coverage across the main island is excellent—even small villages usually have fiber or fast cable.

Home Internet Options

GO Malta — The Infrastructure Owner

GO Malta is the largest provider and owns most of the island's fiber optic infrastructure. If you want the most reliable connection, GO is the safe choice.

Key Details:

• Technology: FTTH (Fiber to the Home) in most areas
• Speeds: 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps packages
• Coverage: Best overall, especially in newer developments
• Installation: Usually 3-7 days
• Contract: 12-24 month terms typical; no-contract options available at premium

Popular GO Packages:

Bundles available: GO offers significant discounts when bundling internet with TV and mobile. A triple-play package with 250 Mbps internet, basic TV, and a mobile plan starts around €55/month.

Pros:

• Most reliable network
• Best fiber coverage
• Good customer support
• Wide range of speed options

Cons:

• Slightly more expensive than competitors
• Contract termination fees can be steep
• Installation can take longer during busy periods

Melita — The Cable Alternative

Melita runs on cable infrastructure (DOCSIS) rather than fiber, but delivers comparable speeds in most cases. They're particularly strong on bundled packages with TV.

Key Details:

• Technology: Cable (DOCSIS 3.1) with some fiber
• Speeds: Up to 1 Gbps
• Coverage: Excellent in urban areas; some gaps in rural Malta
• Strength: Best TV packages and bundle deals

Popular Melita Packages:

Bundle deals: Melita shines with bundles. Their "Unlimited" packages combining internet, TV, and mobile often work out cheaper than competitors when you need all three services.

Pros:

• Competitive pricing
• Best TV and bundle options
• Fast installation in covered areas
• Good mobile add-on deals

Cons:

• Cable can be less consistent than fiber during peak times
• Coverage gaps in some areas
• Upload speeds typically lower than fiber

Epic — The Budget Champion

Epic entered the market as a mobile-first disruptor and has shaken up pricing across the board. They've since expanded to home internet, offering the cheapest plans available.

Key Details:

• Technology: Uses GO's fiber infrastructure (wholesale agreement)
• Speeds: Up to 500 Mbps
• Strength: Lowest prices, flexible terms
• Approach: Digital-first, minimal physical stores

Epic Home Internet:

Pros:

• Cheapest prices in Malta
• Flexible contracts (some no-commitment options)
• Uses GO's reliable fiber network
• Easy online signup

Cons:

• Limited customer support (mostly digital)
• No 1 Gbps option yet
• Installation dependent on GO's availability
• No TV bundles

Mobile Providers Compared

Malta's mobile market is where competition really benefits consumers. All three providers offer excellent 4G/LTE coverage across the islands, and 5G is expanding rapidly in urban areas.

Coverage Overview

You'll have signal virtually everywhere on Malta and Gozo. Even in old buildings with thick walls, you should get at least 3G. 4G is nearly universal, and 5G is available in Sliema, St. Julian's, Valletta, and expanding to other towns.

Prepaid vs. Postpaid

As a digital nomad, you have two options:

• Prepaid: No commitment, buy credit as needed. Good for short stays or while deciding.
• Postpaid: Monthly bill, better value for regular users. Usually requires Maltese ID or proof of address.

GO Malta Mobile

Prepaid Options:

• GO Prepaid SIM: €10 starter pack includes €5 credit
• Data bundles: 5GB for €10, 15GB for €15, 30GB for €20
• Validity: 30 days

Postpaid Plans:

Melita Mobile

Prepaid Options:

• Melita Prepaid: €10 starter with €5 credit
• Data bundles: Similar to GO, 5GB-30GB range
• Bonus: Free Melita WiFi hotspot access

Postpaid Plans:

Epic Mobile — Best Value

Epic disrupted the market with aggressive pricing and hasn't let up. For pure value, they're hard to beat.

Prepaid Options:

• Epic SIM: €5 starter pack
• Epic Data: 10GB for €8, 20GB for €12, 40GB for €18
• Epic Unlimited Daily: €2/day unlimited data

Postpaid Plans:

eSIM Options for Malta

Good news: all three Maltese providers support eSIM activation. This is perfect for digital nomads who want to keep their home number on a physical SIM while adding a Maltese data plan via eSIM.

Provider eSIM Support

GO Malta eSIM:

• Available for both prepaid and postpaid
• Activate online or in-store
• Same plans as physical SIM
• Can convert existing SIM to eSIM

Melita eSIM:

• Full eSIM support
• Online activation available
• Works with all current plans

Epic eSIM:

• eSIM-first approach (very digital-nomad friendly)
• Entire signup process online
• Instant activation
• Best for quick setup without visiting a store

International eSIM Options

If you're only in Malta briefly or want a backup, international eSIM providers also work well:

• Airalo: Malta packages from €5 for 1GB. Good for testing before committing to local.
• Holafly: Unlimited data plans. More expensive but no metering worries.
• Nomad eSIM: Regional Europe packages that include Malta.
• Ubigi: Pay-as-you-go option.

Getting Connected: The Practical Steps

What You'll Need

To sign up for mobile or home internet in Malta, you'll typically need:

• ID document: Passport or EU ID card
• Proof of address: Rental contract, utility bill, or bank statement (for postpaid/home internet)
• Maltese phone number: Sometimes required for verification (get prepaid first)
• Payment method: Bank card or Maltese bank account for direct debit

Where to Sign Up

Physical Stores:

• GO: Main shop in Valletta (Republic Street), plus stores in Sliema, St. Julian's, and most shopping malls
• Melita: Stores in major towns, flagship in Sliema
• Epic: Limited physical presence—a few kiosks in malls

Online Signup:

• GO: go.com.mt — Full online signup for most services
• Melita: melita.com — Online registration available
• Epic: epic.com.mt — Best online experience, fully digital

Installation Timeline

For home internet:

• If fiber/cable already installed in building: 1-3 days
• If new installation needed: 5-14 days
• Peak season (summer): Can take longer due to demand

WiFi at Cafes and Coworking Spaces

Malta has a decent cafe scene for remote work, though quality varies. Here's what to expect:

Best Cafes for Working

Sliema:

• Lot Sixty One — Excellent WiFi, laptop-friendly, great coffee
• Busy Bee — Coworking-cafe hybrid, fast internet
• Cafe Cuba — Spacious, good WiFi, can stay for hours

Valletta:

• Alchemy — Fast WiFi, outlets available, good atmosphere
• Lot Sixty One Valletta — Same reliable chain
• Bridge Bar — More bar than cafe, but good WiFi and late hours

St. Julian's:

• Hugo's Lounge — Decent WiFi, comfortable seating
• Mint — Reliable connection, good for afternoon work

Coworking Space Internet

For guaranteed fast, reliable internet, coworking spaces are your best bet. Most Malta coworking spaces offer:

• 100-500 Mbps dedicated business fiber
• Backup connections for reliability
• Private meeting rooms with video call-quality connections
• IT support if something goes wrong

Popular spaces like SOHO Office Space in Sliema and The Mosta Offices are designed for remote workers who need rock-solid connectivity.

Speed Test Results: What to Actually Expect

Marketing speeds and real-world speeds often differ. Here's what our testing showed:

Note: Upload speeds on cable (Melita) are notably lower than fiber—something to consider if you regularly upload large files or do live streaming.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Slow Speeds

• Test with ethernet cable to rule out WiFi issues
• Check if others in the building are experiencing problems
• Reset router and wait 5 minutes
• Contact provider—they can run remote diagnostics

Connection Drops

• Check if it's WiFi or internet (test wired connection)
• Old Maltese buildings can have spotty WiFi—consider a mesh system
• Power cuts are rare but happen—have mobile data as backup

Can't Get Service at Address

• Check all three providers—coverage varies
• Ask landlord what previous tenants used
• If no fixed line available, unlimited mobile data is a viable alternative

Final Recommendations by Situation

Malta's connectivity infrastructure is genuinely impressive for such a small island. With fiber widely available, competitive mobile networks, and improving 5G coverage, you'll find staying connected as a digital nomad here remarkably stress-free. Get set up in your first week, and you can forget about internet worries for the rest of your stay.