Predictions are difficult to make in the ICT industry, but i-Tech is once again keeping its traditional appointment with a forecast of what can happen in Malta in terms of technology and communication in the New Year that has just started.
Who could have guessed the role of social media in the Arab Spring?- Martin Debattista
Some of the expected developments are related to what actually happened last year. In its review for 2011 i-Tech highlighted news on local TV technology and cloud computing. Much is expected from cloud computing this year, as Microsoft has to deliver its new innovation centre on cloud computing. This new centre, the first in the world from Microsoft dedicated to this emerging field, is just one aspect of the strategic agreement signed between the software giant and the Maltese government last year.
More initiatives emanating from the agreement will be implemented this year, including the sale of discounted Microsoft software to students and educators, the upgrading of software of public employees to Windows 7 and Office 2010, online services for education and support for local software and other businesses.
In terms of TV, this year we expect to see the effects of the sentence of the European Court of Justice which sanctioned the freedom of movement of services in the EU in the case of an English pub which broadcast football matches from a satellite service bought from outside the UK. Malta’s close geographical and historical proximity to both the UK and Italy, which still influences the Maltese TV viewers’ choice, can lead to interesting developments in the area of satellite viewing in Malta. All this pending a resolution of the issue of illegal satellite viewing through the internet-based system known as “card sharing”. Yet, the most anticipated event of 2012 could very well be something not directly related to technology but which will see extensive use of the internet. Speculation over the date of the next general election, due by mid-2013, has already started. If the divorce referendum campaign last year is something to go by, the next general election will see far-reaching use of social media and other online services. We already had a glimpse of what’s possible in the 2008 election, but social media at the time, especially Facebook and YouTube, did not enjoy the popularity they have today, with almost half the Maltese population on Facebook.
ICT is not expected to be a hot issue in these elections, though the fate of SmartCity Malta will almost surely feature in the campaign, especially the issue of the thousands of jobs that had to be created at Ricasoli.
It’s not yet quite clear how the general election result will bear on the technology sector. ICT Minister Austin Gatt, who has been at the helm of this sector for more than a decade, has already announced he will not seek re-election in Parliament. If the PN is returned to power, his most likely successor could be Claudio Grech, Gatt’s right-hand man for many years. On the other hand we still have to see what a Labour Party in government will be up to, as both parties have constantly avoided political confrontation over ICT, with the exception of SmartCity Malta.
An important aspect of any election is the identification of voters. A new ID card system, which will provide both a physical card and an electronic identity to access electronic services, should be rolled out towards mid-2012.
A few weeks ago i-Tech carried two interviews, one with Robert Madelin, the director general for information society at the European Commission, and Andrew de la Torre, the new head of technology at Vodafone Malta. Mr Madelin spoke about how very fast internet access is the next big challenge for Malta, and a few days later, Mr de la Torre confirmed that his company is willing to invest in high-speed fixed internet access over fibre optic cables. However the latter complained about the administrative and regulatory challenges his company has to face to enter this market.
While the EU continues to push for wider adoption of high-speed broadband internet access, in 2012 we expect to see some significant developments in this area in Malta, especially from the Malta Communications Authority (MCA).
The new e-learning platform for primary and secondary schools should be up and running in the first months of 2012 but it is highly unlikely that it will have an immediate impact on Maltese education. While the education authorities seem to take a soft approach without enforcing its use in the classroom, the Malta Union of Teachers is yet to pronounce itself on an issue that should have an impact on the conditions of work of teachers.
In the 2012 Budget, Finance Minister Tonio Fenech did not announce major initiatives related to technology. There will be support for the nascent video game industry in Malta and the excise duty on mobile communication introduced a few years ago will remain unchanged but the basic rate will change from tariff to volume. According to the Budget estimates this will increase revenues from €2.2 million to €2.7 million in 2012.
The Malta Council for Science and Technology is expected to launch the final Research and Innovation Strategic Plan 2011-2020 after it published the first draft a few weeks ago. This plan will define Malta’s priorities in terms of research and innovation throughout this decade.
As with every attempt to forecast events in ICT, there’s always a chance you miss out on some unexpected occurrences. The death of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs last October shocked the world, as did WikiLeaks and the release of diplomatic cables the year before. Who could have guessed the role of social media in the Arab Spring?