Free public internet access points to be set up very soon
Malta is to follow the international trend and provide free broadband internet access in public places. The Malta Communications Authority will soon launch public internet access points (PIAP) in different locations in Malta and Gozo in the hope that...
Malta is to follow the international trend and provide free broadband internet access in public places.
The Malta Communications Authority will soon launch public internet access points (PIAP) in different locations in Malta and Gozo in the hope that it will stimulate an increase in internet usage both by children and adults. The initiative is also intended to encourage the provision of wireless broadband in a number of centres run by public and not-for-profit entities that render a service in the community. Such locations will include training centres, public libraries, civic centres, youth centres and public gardens.
Each PIAP will be served with a wireless internet broadband connection of 20Mbps downstream and 512Kbps upstream. The connection will be filtered through a centralised technology against adult content, gambling and gambling sites. The wireless routers that will be used to set up the connection are a donation from Cisco.
To cover the cost of the PIAP service, the MCA will seek sponsorship from third party entities through a call for sponsorship. The authority will be inviting private establishments to participate in this project by sponsoring one or more locations for the duration of 24 months. PIAP locations will be identified through a public call.
Accessing the internet from a library or other public place is not very common in the EU27 member states. The PIAPs set up across Malta will boost such usage, the MCA hopes.
However, a more worrying statistic is the number of parents who fear their children might access dangerous content online. According to a survey conducted in October 2008 across the 27 European countries to study parents' views about their children's use of the internet, the biggest worry for 65 per cent of parents is that their child might see inappropriate content whilst using the internet. In the parents' opinion, the biggest risk was that their child might see sexually or violently explicit images.
"Children's internet use can be regulated by the use of software filters," reassured an MCA spokesman. "In order to minimise the risks, all the PIAPs set up will have a Wi-Fi connection with filtering software installed to block content of unlawful nature which may be harmful to children. With such measure, children using the PIAPs on their laptops will be able to benefit from a safer use of the internet."
The number of children owning mobile phone is growing continually. Mobile phones with internet access are also rising in number. Now there is an explosion in the use of netbooks, small laptops optimized for internet access on the move.
"With this tool, children will have access to use the internet at any location. Hence the installation of filtering software is essential to make the internet a safer place," the spokesman added.
• This is the first in a mini-series of articles on internet safety on the occasion of the annual European Safer Internet Day, promoted by the EU and celebrated on February 10.
The Malta Communications Authority will soon launch public internet access points (PIAP) in different locations in Malta and Gozo in the hope that it will stimulate an increase in internet usage both by children and adults. The initiative is also intended to encourage the provision of wireless broadband in a number of centres run by public and not-for-profit entities that render a service in the community. Such locations will include training centres, public libraries, civic centres, youth centres and public gardens.
Each PIAP will be served with a wireless internet broadband connection of 20Mbps downstream and 512Kbps upstream. The connection will be filtered through a centralised technology against adult content, gambling and gambling sites. The wireless routers that will be used to set up the connection are a donation from Cisco.
To cover the cost of the PIAP service, the MCA will seek sponsorship from third party entities through a call for sponsorship. The authority will be inviting private establishments to participate in this project by sponsoring one or more locations for the duration of 24 months. PIAP locations will be identified through a public call.
Accessing the internet from a library or other public place is not very common in the EU27 member states. The PIAPs set up across Malta will boost such usage, the MCA hopes.
However, a more worrying statistic is the number of parents who fear their children might access dangerous content online. According to a survey conducted in October 2008 across the 27 European countries to study parents' views about their children's use of the internet, the biggest worry for 65 per cent of parents is that their child might see inappropriate content whilst using the internet. In the parents' opinion, the biggest risk was that their child might see sexually or violently explicit images.
"Children's internet use can be regulated by the use of software filters," reassured an MCA spokesman. "In order to minimise the risks, all the PIAPs set up will have a Wi-Fi connection with filtering software installed to block content of unlawful nature which may be harmful to children. With such measure, children using the PIAPs on their laptops will be able to benefit from a safer use of the internet."
The number of children owning mobile phone is growing continually. Mobile phones with internet access are also rising in number. Now there is an explosion in the use of netbooks, small laptops optimized for internet access on the move.
"With this tool, children will have access to use the internet at any location. Hence the installation of filtering software is essential to make the internet a safer place," the spokesman added.
• This is the first in a mini-series of articles on internet safety on the occasion of the annual European Safer Internet Day, promoted by the EU and celebrated on February 10.