The Communications sector is vital for Malta’s economic success, Economy Minister Chris Cardona said today. He was speaking during a visit to the Malta Communications Authority offices at the Valletta Waterfront. Dr Cardona was given a tour of the building by authority Chairman Edward Woods and met with employees.
The Economy Minister said the government will keep strengthening the sector in order to sustain the unprecedented level of investment the country is experiencing.
The sector, he said, is proof of the benefits of competition and how investment and innovation contribute to economic growth. Dr Cardona said the country is assisting in the growth of the ICT industry. According to NSO statistics, the sector accounted for 6% of GDP by the end of last year.
Information technology services are indispensable for innovation, efficiency and continuous development that lead to increased job opportunities and a better quality life.
The minister spoke about the cellular and broadband sectors, noting that broadband penetration had reached 35% by the end of last year. This meant that more than 80% of households had some form of internet connection.
“We are committed to ensure that Malta has the best possible broadband infrastructure that looks toward ambitious growth in the digital economy. This would lead to more competitive, reliable and better quality internet services. It should also bring the country closer to the targets of the European Digital Agenda 2020.”
Dr Cardona praised the Malta Communications Authority for striving to widen the use of ICT services. The authority will keep offering training opportunities through EU-financed projects.
MCA Chairman Edward Woods said that, despite the connectivity expansion experienced in the past few years, the demand for high quality communications keeps increasing. “The sustainability of modern economies depends on high quality bandwidth and a global connectivity. This is why the MCA commissioned a study to evaluate, from a technical, economic and financial aspect, the possibility of laying a new submarine cable between Malta and the EU.”
Dr Woods said that, on a European level, Malta is at the forefront as an information society. He referred to the recent public call for the development of a satellite communications sector. The government, he explained, intends to make Malta’s two orbital slots, allocated by the International Telecommunications Union, available on the market in an international competitive process.