A mobile government strategy aimed at providing the country with a 24/7 access to public services through the use of mobile applications will be fully operational in March 2017 Principal Permanent Secretary Michael Cutajar and MITA Executive Chairman Tony Sultana announced at a press conference today.

The soft launch, which begins today, will use focus groups to test the application in order to create platforms which are based on citizen involvement.

The strategy, which ends in 2018, looks to implement basic mobile communications services by March 2017, whilst services which require greater security and are transaction-based will be implemented in March 2018.

The strategy will also be looking to establish greater collaboration between the various government departments.

The entire program is based around the once only principle, which seeks to remove the administrative and bureaucratic burden placed on government clerks and citizens alike by allowing people to submit their information to the government once instead of multiple times.

The strategy will also fall under the  Digital Malta Strategy 2014-2020 and the EU egovernment action plan 2016-2020.