Although, as they say, the past is no guarantee for the future, the year 2011 that has just started should witness more positive developments for the Maltese technology and communication sector.
One of the most important events scheduled for 2011 is the digital terrestrial TV switchover which will happen on February 1. Originally planned for December 31, 2010 the changeover will see the switching off of the analogue TV signals of local stations captured by antennas on our roofs.
Instead, all signals will be in digital format, meaning they will only be captured by a digital TV set-top box or TV sets with digital terrestrial capabilities built in them. Six Maltese TV stations will eventually be broadcasting free-to-air in digital format as part of the switchover. However, this step, which is being taken across the EU, will affect the reception of Italian TV stations which have been enjoyed in analogue format for decades free of charge.
Speaking of TV, HD TV in Malta should continue to establish itself locally after Melita was the first provider to launch it commercially last year. Melita’s competing TV services provider, Go, is expected to launch its commercial trials of HD TV service based on fibre-optic cables and ADSL this year.
However, Maltese TV viewers right now seem more concerned about the disappearance of favourite channels from both Melita’s and Go’s platform without perceived adequate redress. This complex issue of rights to transmit and compensation to TV clients will be one of the thorny issues in communications at least in first months of 2011.
Another EU-related development is the transposition of the new EU telecoms framework onto Maltese legislation during this year. The consultation process was held throughout last year and the new regulations aim to update the regulatory framework to reflect the ever-changing realities in communications and technology.
However, there are certain developments that are expected early in the year. One of these is the adjudication of the e-learning tender. Issued last year, it will provide for the implementation of the strategic national e-learning platform for primary and secondary schools. At the end of last year the adjudication board was busy evaluating the bids and if the original timetable is followed then the announcement of the winning bidder should be made in the first days of 2011.
Hopefully this will not be put off or derailed by news of complications on the award process after the original call for expressions of interest was marred by allegations of conflict of interest by foreign consultants.
Another development expected in the first weeks of 2011 should be the much expected announcement of the official availability of Apple’s iPad tablet in Malta, thanks to an agreement between Apple and one or more of the local mobile services providers. However the announcement could coincide with the launch of the second version of iPad, expected sometime in March or April, a year after the first launch.
Smartphones and tablets are expected to continue to have a significant impact on the Maltese, as users continue to migrate from the desktop PC to wireless and mobile devices. The trend of greater data usage on mobile devices at the expense of voice calls and content-based SMS is expected to continue, the local mobile operators are forced to invest ever more in their networks to provide for the relentless increase in the use of internet on mobile devices. However, developments in fixed broadband internet access are also expected, as HD TV will push for the need of greater internet access speeds.
In the meantime the European Commission continues to insist on the need to reduce and eventually eliminate the high mobile data roaming charges and 2011 could see important decisions towards this end.
Last year the Malta Communications Authority issued a call for applications for access rights to the use of radio frequencies in the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands in Malta. The closing date is January 14 and the successful applicants will be able to use these frequencies to provide mobile communication services. There is no guarantee that the current mobile network operators, i.e. Vodafone Malta, Go and Melita will get the rights to continue to use these frequencies and there could be new entrants in the market.
Late last year government published a White Paper on the use of Open Source Software in the public service through its agency, the Malta Information Technology Agency. The most important aspect of OSS is the fact that the source code is available and can be modified, but the White Paper makes it clear that OSS will only be considered if it is “non-intrusive” to established systems. The White Paper suggests the first implementation of open source in 2011 and educational establishments could be among the first to use these applications.
i-Tech can reveal that the new country manager for Microsoft Malta is expected to take over at the start of the year, and will fill the shoes left by Pierre Mallia, who had been at the helm from day one of the establishment of Microsoft’s presence in Malta.
After the inauguration of the first office building in SmartCity Malta last October, the empty offices could see some new tenants during 2011. One of them could be DayBreak, the American data company. In the meantime work on the construction site in Ricasoli continues and work on new buildings will continue throughout 2011.
As the Maltese continue to embrace the social networks, especially Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, issues linked to privacy, copyright and security should become more evident in Malta too.
This is as far as our predictions for 2011 can go. Just like very few predicted and saw the huge impact of WikiLeaks on the international scene in 2010, it is impossible to see these unexpected, up to a certain point, events. Maybe Malta will have its own MaltaLeaks sometime this year or someone will come up with some bright idea that proves to be a game changer. We’ll have to wait and see.