The launching of a Vehicular Tracking System and call centre in Malta by Datanet is a continuation of more companies investing in technological and communications systems, allowing Malta to maximise its competitiveness, said Communications Minister Censu Galea yesterday.

Dr Galea was delivering a speech during the launch of the new system by Datanet, formerly Datatrak, which will implement vehicular tracking and a personal alarm track.

Mr Galea said: “Globally, wireless systems are increasingly becoming vehicles for the introduction of innovative services aimed at increasing the productivity of our organisations.”

The minister said the government was fully aware of the importance of enabling technologies, and had consistently sought to ensure that such scientific advances became available in the shortest time-frame possible.

Mr Galea also explained that the strategic framework for the management of radio spectrum published in September this year, introduces a three-year programme of projects which will further spur development in the sector.

“These projects span a number of areas including 3G, broadcasting, licence-exempt spectrum use and other similar activities,” explained Mr Galea.

He said that since joining the European Union, Malta’s competitive edge had gone from strength to strength. “The competitiveness of our country stands to benefit from the increased use of technology and communications systems. The Vehicular Tracking System will allow Malta to further offer technology-based services in different sectors including tourism and financial services, and also, state-of-the-art research and development facilities for multinational technology firms that are seeking to expand their business in the Euro-Mediterranean area.

Mr Galea said there was investment in the field of tracking ships, which would allow the Maltese authorities to know exactly where any ship entering Maltese waters has been.

Datanet Security Systems managing director Martin Zerafa said that the company had been operating since November 2002 under the previous name Datatrak. He also explained that DSS had recently launched a sister company in the UK, operating in the fields of electrical engineering project management and installation services, SMS premium parking systems, security and fire doors and security and management systems for marinas.

He said that the services launched yesterday were DTrack and AlarmTrack. The former is a fleet management and tracking system while the latter is an intelligent alarm monitoring system.