The pace of the telecommunications industry has long been driven by technological and regulatory developments, together with increasing demands by technology-hungry customers. Competitive pressure has led market players to innovate further in this sector. Research is the key to continued success as it leads to new knowledge on the market. This intelligence is used for the development of new products and innovative services allowing market players and new entrants to sustain a competitive market to the benefit of the customers.
Acknowledging the importance of research in this thriving industry, the Malta Communications Authority (MCA) recently entered into an agreement with the University of Malta to collaborate on research initiatives undertaken in fields related to telecommunications. The aim is to stimulate research and obtain a deeper understanding on various facets of ICT in the local context or application, while encouraging more students and academics to specialise in these areas.
Philip Micallef, executive chairman of the MCA said: “Over the past few years, Malta has managed to achieve a lot in the field of communications technologies. Such achievements may only be sustained if we develop ourselves into specialists that are able to identify niches and maximise on opportunities.”
Under this agreement, the MCA will be funding research and other initiatives in ICT development and engineering such as spectrum management and ICT solution development; law and policy including regulation, internet governance and e-commerce law; business and management that covers e-commerce, project management and related business models; and social sciences that measure and explain the impact of ICT on society and individuals particularly for vulnerable groups.
The MCA is already supporting a number of research studies. These include a study on the quality of the digital terrestrial transmissions and the customer experience in this regard; a study on the digital and video gaming trends in the Maltese market; a study on children’s perceptions on the risks encountered online, and a fourth study on the impact of digital exclusion on older individuals.
The key findings of these studies will be published in due course. In the meantime, the funds are being managed by the Corporate Research and Knowledge Transfer Office within the University of Malta.
More information is available from Martina Pace on knowledgetransfer@um.edu.mt or 2340 3455.