Goldman-backed Melita to acquire Malta rival Epic in telecoms consolidation

What's the deal? MelitaDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has agreed to acquire 100% of Epic CommunicationsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → from Monaco TelecomDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, combining two of Malta's leading telecommunications providers. The companies announced the proposed deal on Wednesday. Terms were not disclosed.

What's the endgame? The combination would create a larger operator spanning fixed and mobile services. The companies said pooling their networks would speed investment in next-generation infrastructure, gigabit speeds, network resilience, and cybersecurity.

Why now? Both sides framed the deal around scale. "Malta needs serious, sustained investment in its digital infrastructure, and that is harder for smaller operators to fund on their own," said Melita chief executive officer Harald Roesch.

Epic chief executive officer Pierre-Etienne Cizeron called it an "important milestone for Malta's digital future," pointing to greater capacity to invest in networks, digital services, and customer experience. He said the shared goal was "to deliver even greater value, choice and connectivity to consumers and businesses across Malta."

What could go wrong? The acquisition is not yet complete. It remains subject to merger control and other regulatory approvals. Until those are secured, Melita and Epic will keep operating and competing as separate companies, with no immediate changes for customers or employees.

Melita, founded in Malta in 1992, has been owned by Infrastructure at Goldman Sachs AlternativesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → since 2025. Epic has been owned by Monaco Telecom since 2020.

The signal: The tie-up reflects a broader push toward consolidation in smaller telecoms markets, where operators increasingly argue that scale is needed to fund the heavy costs of upgrading fixed and mobile networks.

Image credit: Wesley Fryer