September 2017: Highlights and Activities

International Meetings attended by MCA representatives

EMF Training
Two MCA officials successfully completed a training programme on "Measurements of Human Exposure to RF Electromagnetic Field" and "EMF Measurements and Reporting".  The training programme was held in Lichtenau, Germany, between the 18th and the 22nd September 2017.

BEREC/IRG Contact Network Meeting
The BEREC/IRG Contact Network meeting was held in Belgrade, Serbia on the 14th and 15th September, 2017. The meeting discussed the various ongoing work streams within the Expert Working Groups and prepared the agenda for the Plenary meeting held on 05/06 October 2017.

Euroconsult’s 21st Summit for Satellite Financing
An MCA representative attended the 21st Summit for Satellite Financing organized by Euroconsult, which took place in Paris from the 11th to 13th September 2017.  During this Summit various future developments and the resulting challenges to the Satellite Industry were discussed by the most influential decision makers in this industry. MCA also met with representatives from various well established Satellite companies.

Multilateral Meeting
Parliament and Council Decision No. 2017/899 on the 700 MHz band requires Member States to conclude all frequency coordination agreements on the use of this band by end 2017 and to undertake frequency coordination activities with third countries.  In view of the foregoing the MCA is holding a number of multilateral meeting with Italy, Tunisia and Libya to discuss spectrum matters concerning the distribution of radio frequencies in the UHF band below 694 MHz. The principal aim behind such meetings is to define the principles that will be applied to coordinate additional radio frequencies for DTT use in Malta, leading to make available the  700 MHz band for WBB services as required by the aforementioned EU Decision.  The outcome of these meeting will eventually feed into the national roadmap on the 700 MHz band.

ERGP Working Group on Implementation and Evolution of the Universal Service
A representative from the MCA attended a European Regulators Group for Postal Services (ERGP) working group meeting in Rome, Italy on 7th September 2017. The discussion focused mainly on the conclusion of the upcoming report on Work Stream 2 concerning the evolution of the universal service (USO) in light of the various market developments currently taking place in the postal sector.

BEREC Expert Working Group - Roaming Mobile - Meeting on Mobile Issues
A number of countries face difficulties to meet the increasing demand from users and local authorities for mobile connectivity available in ‘challenge areas’ (such as indoor areas). The aim of this expert working group is to prepare a report which will outline a number of initiatives to facilitate mobile connectivity in 'challenge areas'. During the last meeting, the group managed to finalise a draft report to be submitted to BEREC’s Contact Network for their review.
Furthermore, each National Regulatory Authority (NRA) adopts different means to provide information on national mobile coverage. The primary aim of this expert working group on this issue is to achieve a common position on mobile coverage terms used, monitoring and reporting methods to represent mobile coverage.  A document on mobile monitoring coverage prepared by this group was finalised during the last meeting. This document is to be submitted to BEREC’s Contact Network for their review. 

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MCA Events

Malta-based start-ups gather for ZEST Malta 2017
ZEST Malta 2017, the main gathering for Malta-based start-ups, is currently being held at the Radisson Blu Golden Sands Resort and Spa. The event is being attended by start-up founders and CEOs, investors, talent, influencers and support professionals, and brings together a cosmopolitan crowd of locals, expats and fly-ins, whilst offering the ideal setting for attendees to discover opportunities and build lasting relationships.

ZEST is the MCA’s contribution towards raising further awareness on the start-up phenomenon and bringing the Maltese start-up community closer together. It also serves as an exceptional platform for youths to discover what tech entrepreneurship can offer and urge them to make the most of this opportunity. Furthermore, ZEST gives visibility to the Maltese ecosystem, whilst showcasing its potential well beyond its shores.
More than 50 world-class speakers are participating in this year’s event, discussing topics such as business foresight, investment, scaling strategies, organisational culture, and the impact of emerging technologies on established verticals such as; finance, content and hospitality.


In his address, the Parliamentary Secretary for Financial Services, Digital Economy and Innovation, the Hon. Silvio Schembri reiterated his belief that Malta can serve as home to a community of technology start-ups, stating that “Malta never shied away from being different and standing out from the crowd”. He added that the Maltese “are unafraid of sailing out to uncharted seas”, a characteristic which can be very attractive to start-ups.

A tiny fraction of sharp start-ups can have a significant impact on Malta’s economy. Malta is ideal for technology start-ups because it is a member of the European Union, is English speaking, cosmopolitan, and home to a highly capable and experienced workforce. Moreover, Malta can offer regulatory nimbleness, lifestyle and low burn-rate.
ZEST is organised by the Malta Communications Authority (MCA) and is sponsored by amico.ai, Go Beyond Investing, i.e. Business School, Sherpa and Alter Domus. The Times of Malta, MITA Innovation Hub, Finance Malta, the European Commission, Gaming Malta and Mimcol, are partners in the event.

Visit www.zest.org.mt for more information or contact the MCA on info@zest.org.mt.

MCA launches FastTrak - another initiative of the eCommerce Malta National Strategy 2014-2020
The Malta Communications Authority (MCA), with the support of the Malta Employers’ Association (MEA) and the Malta Chamber of SMEs (GRTU), will be offering free training sessions on Digital Marketing, with special focus on online presence and social media. These sessions will aim to guide those operating in the retail industry on how to boost their business and create an effective online presence through social media channels. FastTrak, complements other initiatives that the MCA has undertaken since the publication of the National eCommerce Strategy in 2014. The MCA is also updating the National eCommerce Strategy document following a public consultation which was concluded in July 2017 and which is intended to pave the way forward to ensure an eCommerce landscape that is creative, innovative, collaborative and adaptable.

The responses ensuing from the public consultation, highlight the need for businesses to actively embrace the digital shift that is, inevitably, transforming the retail industry. According to the latest survey carried out by the Authority titled Insights into Consumer Buying Behaviour Attitudes, 70% of internet users turn to the Web before buying a product or booking a service indicating that consumers are increasingly searching on the Internet for their shopping.  This study also shows that 63% of consumers who use social media follow their favourite brands and retailers on these channels, highlighting how widespread social media has become in today’s world.


The Honourable Parliamentary Secretary, Silvio Schembri, emphasised the importance of the use of social media by businesses, not only to facilitate administrative practices, but also to ensure an efficient channel of communication with the consumer. “In the present digital society, social media facilitates closer proximity between buyer and seller. In fact, a number of micro-business owners are now interacting with their clients through Facebook. However, there still remains room for improvement in order to enhance competitiveness between businesses. Thus, laying the ground rules on how to deliver the right message to the right customers through the right channels, indeed, paves the way to prosperity,” stated the Parliamentary Secretary.

As part of its aim to encourage business presence on social media, FastTrak will offer retailers the opportunity to learn how to enhance communication with customers and adopt an appropriate strategy for their business.  Retailers still hesitate to employ social media within their operations as some perceive it as a challenge to their traditional way of doing business. Within such a context, FastTrak will aim to knock down the barriers that are preventing retailers from using social media in a meaningful way, and help them understand that engaging with customers and leveraging social media tools will drive more leads and prospective buyers to their business. It will also seek to help participants appreciate the importance of investing in effective online content that enables them to convey the right message to the right audience, at the right time.

Businesses interested in attending these training sessions are invited to visit MCA’s website, www.mca.org.mt and complete the FastTrak application form.

Skolasajf children benefit from Coding and BeSmartOnline! Sessions
Children attending Skolasajf 2017 in five different centres in Fgura, Siġġiewi, Ħamrun, St. Paul’s Bay and Sliema, were offered coding sessions, or basic programming concepts, after the Directorate for Digital Literacy within MEDE and the MCA, teamed up for this initiative to help address the digital divide amongst children.
Digital Literacy is increasingly becoming a key competency across the educational system as well as it is presenting itself as a life-long learning skill in its own right.  In the light of this reality the Malta Communication Authority (MCA) is collaborating with the Foundation for Educational Services within the Ministry for Education and Employment (MEDE) to hold non-formal educational sessions on two distinct yet necessary competencies in their own right.

Another initiative, Be Smart Online! gave children, spread across 12 other Skolasajf centres, the necessary tips to avoid risks while using the internet, for educational, socialising and entertainment purposes.
The scope of Coding sessions was mainly two-fold: empowering children to master the basic principles of coding, and to help them develop logical thinking skills. It is acknowledged that the latter benefits the general thinking skills and not merely those directly related to coding. Amongst the learning outcomes of the programme of activities, children were able to predict and explain the outcomes of a series of sequential instructions, the breaking down of complex tasks into smaller and manageable tasks, and identifying errors in a sequence of instructions. In an effort to increase the children’s participation in the activities, the programme was supported by the use of tablets and robotic kits.

The BeSmartOnline! initiative focused on a wide range of soft, life-centric skills, necessary to ensure that children have a positive online experience. Needless to say, that the more children use the Internet, the more likely it is that they will stumble across risks. Children often lack the life skills and experience to recognise these risks in order to avoid falling victims to them. The BeSmartOnline! Project was coordinated by the MCA, and implemented through a consortium which includes the Foundation for Social Welfare Services, the Office of the Commissioner for Children and the Directorate for Quality and Standards in Education.
During a visit at one of the conding sessions being offered in St. Pauls Bay Primary School, Parlamentary Secretary Silvio Schembri, responsible for Financial Services, Digital Economy and Innovation, explained that such initiative compliments the vision and the Government’s commitment to increase awareness on these subjects whilst strenthening digital skills.  This is of utmost importance in order to compliment our country’s competitiveness in view of the ever increasing number of industries which depend on employees with advanced ICT skills. Minister for Education and Empoyment Evarist Bartolo stated that although digital literacy is important at every age, especially for primary school children, it is also very important to find a balance between the digital world and reality itself. The Minister was impressed by how happy and engaged the students were, and stressed that schools are not meant to be ‘learning factories’, but engaging and enjoyable, in order to help realise the potential of every learner to the fullest extent possible.

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Media participation by MCA

Television

26.09.17              ‘News Feature' – TVM
                             (MCA eBusiness Awards 2017 - Marcelle Attard)  

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International News

REGULATION

Cullen International       EU Telecoms Review – end user rights: key European Parliament vote and latest Council draft compromise
Cullen International has published an info graphic summarising the main results of the lead Parliament Internal Market (IMCO) committee vote on end user rights and universal service. It also covers the latest compromise proposal of the Estonian Council presidency [read more – subscription required].

Total Telecom   EU following Vivendi/TIM situation 'very closely' – Vestager
European antitrust authorities are watching Vivendi's actions at TIM with a view to safeguarding competition in the Italian telecoms market, it emerged [read more].

Total Telecom   UK govt takes first full fibre step
The UK government has named the first regions that will benefit from funding it allocated to fibre rollout earlier this year, but the announcement marks a very small step, accounting for just 5% of the available funding [read more].

Cullen International       European Parliament approves agreement with Council on EU-funded WiFi scheme
The European Parliament plenary confirmed the informal agreement with the Council on the proposed WiFi4EU scheme on September 12, 2017 [read more – subscription required].

Cullen International       European Parliament and the Council agree to prolong EFSI investment plan
The European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) will be extended from 2018 until the end of 2020. This should result in a total of €500bn in additional investments by the end of 2020. The current EFSI plan sets an investment goal of €350bn by 2018 [read more – subscription required].

Ofcom  Ofcom updates penalty guidelines
Ofcom is required under section 392 of the Communications Act 2003 (the ‘Act’) to publish guidelines setting out how it proposes to determine the amount of the penalties which it imposes [read more].

Cullen International       France to give electronic registered mail the same legal status as physical mail
France has notified to the European Commission a decree which aims to grant electronic registered mail the same legal status as its hard copy counterpart [read more – subscription required].

Ofcom  Review of the General Conditions of Entitlement
The aim of this review has been to produce a revised set of up to date conditions which reflect Ofcom’s current priorities and concerns, and are simpler and clearer for industry to comply with. This should also make it easier for Ofcom to enforce the rules in the interests of citizens and consumers [read more].

Cullen International       Telecoms operators concerned about direction of draft Telecoms Code
Mariya Gabriel (European commissioner for Digital Economy) spoke out against addressing oligopolies in the ongoing EU Telecoms Framework Review. She believes that the current “discussions to widen regulatory powers beyond the concept of the significant market power […] do not meet our goal of stability and predictability for investors and can lead to overregulation” [read more – subscription required].

European Commission  First summer without extra roaming charges: Flash Eurobarometer survey full report
The European commission launched a Eurobarometer Flash survey to measure the awareness of the end of roaming charges in the EU and the impact this has had on citizens’ mobile use when travelling within the EU after 15 June 2017 [read more].

European Commission  The role of eGovernment in deepening the single market
The European Parliamentary Research Service published a briefing on the role of eGovernment in deepening the Single Market [read more].

Cullen International       Ofcom enhances consumer protection obligations
The UK regulator, Ofcom, has decided to enhance certain consumer protection measures applying to all communications providers [read more – subscription required].

SPECTRUM

Policy Tracker    Belgian regulator puts 1400MHz back on the table
The Belgian regulator BIPT has launched a consultation which shows that it has changed its plan for an upcoming multi-band auction by reintroducing the idea of selling spectrum in the 1400MHz band [read more – subscription required].

Policy Tracker    Bulgaria consults on spectrum release in four bands
Bulgaria’s regulator the Communications Regulation Commission (CRC) has launched a public consultation on the 1.5GHz, 2GHz, 2.6GHz and 3.6GHz bands. They will be assigned for LTE services [read more – subscription required].

Policy Tracker    Debate exposes depth of disagreement over 5.9GHz ITS
Andreas Geiss, head of the spectrum unit at DG Connect (part of the European Commission), who chaired the debate, told PolicyTracker that it was an attempt to mediate between proponents of the LTE-V2X standard and those supporting 802.11p. The aim would not be to transpose any agreement into regulation but to help the debate along [read more – subscription required].

Policy Tracker    European 700MHz talks “progressing well”
Talks on the 700MHz band will take place this month with a view to reaching an agreement by December. They could help with the issue of Italian DTT causing interference for neighbouring EU member states. This has been a problem for those countries for more than 30 years [read more – subscription required].

Policy Tracker    Italian multiband auction talks go down to the wire
A source close to the talks on the possible 2018 auction of 26GHz, 700MHz and 3.4-3.8 Hz in Italy said they are taking place in Rome and should be completed next week. Discussions on a range of options for the approach to the auction follow a consultation launched earlier this year [read more – subscription required].

Policy Tracker    ECJ advocate general backs Commission in WRC-15 case
The court case that should decide the boundaries of the European Commission’s influence in World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) negotiations has moved a step closer to its conclusion [read more – subscription required].

Policy Tracker    BT/EE drops call for release of entire 3.4-3.8GHz band from auction legal challenge
The UK operator BT/EE has joined the legal battle against the spectrum regulator, Ofcom, seeking a judicial review of its decision on the upcoming auction of 3.4-3.6GHz that will be heard in tandem with its rival Three’s case against the regulator over the same auction [read more – subscription required].

TELEVISION

Advanced Television     Millennials watch more time-shifted content than live TV
Millennials (ages 18-34) watch more time-shifted content through self-recording or on-demand (55%) than live TV (45%), according to a study from the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). The Exploring Preferences for Personalized Content Consumption Experiences Study also shows that only 35% of those over the age of 35 watch time-shifted content, clearly preferring to watch live TV (66%) [read more].

Advanced Television     Apple TV 4K launched
Amid the fanfare of the release of updated iPhones, Apple’s launch event also included the introduction of the new Apple TV 4K designed to deliver what the tech giant calls “a stunning cinematic experience at home” [read more].

Advanced Television     Netflix offers bandwidth tech to airlines
Netflix is planning to partner with a number of airlines to provide them with its mobile streaming technology. According to a report in Variety, this partnership service will begin early next year [read more].

INTERNET

Advanced Television     Research: UK prefers smartphone for Internet access
In 2017, for the first time, smartphones will be the preferred method to access the Internet among adults in the UK, according to research firm eMarketer’s latest time spent forecast [read more].

Advanced Television     Vodafone Spain launches 1Gbps optic fibre
Vodafone has become the first ISP in Spain to launch speeds of 1Gbps through its optic fibre network – significantly up from the previous highest speed of 300Mbps [read more].

European Commission  Study on broadband coverage in Europe 2016
The Broadband Coverage in Europe study is designed to monitor the progress of EU Member States towards their specific broadband coverage objectives, i.e. ‘Universal Broadband Coverage with speeds at least 30Mbps by 2020’ and ‘Broadband Coverage of 50% of households with speeds at least 100 Mbps by 2020’ [read more].

European Commission  Fixed Broadband Prices in Europe 2016
This study provides comprehensive data on the 2016 retail prices of fixed broadband offers for consumers in the EU28, Iceland, Norway, Japan, South Korea, Canada and the USA [read more].

INNOVATION

Telecoms.com  Uber gets booted out of London
Transport for London has decided not to renew the license of ride-hailing service Uber due to public safety concerns [read more].

POST

eCommerce News          French La Poste will deliver parcels on Sunday
French postal service company La Poste will soon send parcels to online customers on Sunday. The postal service company will do this via its subsidiary Chronopost and the service is only reserved for goods coming from companies, not from other consumers [read more].

eCommerce News          French consumers are most open to new delivery methods
French consumers are more open to new delivery methods than consumers from the United Kingdom or the Netherlands. For example, 58% of the French would give couriers temporary access to their homes to let them deliver parcels. In the UK and the Netherlands, it’s respectively only 36% and 25% of consumers who would do this [read more].

CEP Research     Deutsche Post delivers letters less often in controversial test
Deutsche Post is testing mail delivery in Germany to selected customers on fewer workdays per week, due to declining letter volumes in recent years, to save costs while the German trade union Verdi is heavily criticising the tests [read more – subscription required].

CEP Research     DHL extends European parcel network to Ireland, Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania
DHL has unveiled new partnerships in Ireland, Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania, extending its European parcel network to 26 countries, with the goal of complete European coverage by the end of 2018 [read more – subscription required].

CEP Research     Australia Post raises mail and parcel prices but collects criticism
Australia Post is raising prices for various delivery services including domestic parcels, Express Post, as well as international mail and parcels, but consumer protection organisations accuse the postal operator of making customers “shoulder price increases” despite its rising profits [read more – subscription required].

CEP Research     Japan Post hikes parcel rates by 12% and heads for $12bn share placement
Japan Post will follow rivals Yamato and Sagawa by increasing parcel prices dramatically to cope with rising costs and could be set for a second share offering this month designed to raise up to $12 billion [read more – subscription required].

CEP Research     Lithuania Post handles 25% more international parcels per day thanks to LEAN working
Lithuania Post is now processing 25% more imported parcels each day arriving from China or other foreign countries after it started implementing LEAN working methodologies at the logistics centre in Vilnius where all international parcels arrive [read more – subscription required].

CEP Research     Impatient Brits want deliveries faster than ever
British consumers are demanding more flexibility and faster delivery times from online retailers and delivery couriers, a recent survey found [read more – subscription required].

Cullen International       Removal of final reserved area for Poste Italiane
The Italian government has removed, as of September 10, 2017, Poste Italiane’s exclusive right to deliver notifications of legal acts [read more – subscription required].

Cullen International       ARCEP adopts new approach for allocation of La Poste's delivery costs and consults on future pricing framework
ARCEP adopted on September 19, 2017 a decision that will modify the way in which La Poste's delivery costs will be allocated for universal service products [read more – subscription required]. 

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Disclaimer

The information contained in this newsletter is for general information purposes only and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the information contained therein. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.