Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1463927
9 EDITORIAL BusinessToday is published every Thursday. The newspaper is a MediaToday publication and is distributed to all leading stationers, business and financial institutions and banks. MANAGING EDITOR: SAVIOUR BALZAN EDITOR: PAUL COCKS BusinessToday, MediaToday, Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN9016, Malta Newsroom email: bt@mediatoday.com.mt Advertising: afarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt Telephone: 00356 21 382741 R oads are an important part of a country's infrastructure because they provide a physical means of connections between people, commu- nities, workplaces, entertainment spots, harbours and airports. e massive upgrades in the road in- frastructure witnessed over the past five years have vastly improved the net- work. Ongoing major roadworks outside the airport and the underpass connect- ing the Central Link with the Mrieħel bypass will continue to solve key con- gestion nodes. But even after these pro- jects are completed, work must contin- ue to solve are problematic areas such as the Qormi roundabout that links to Żebbuġ and Luqa, the Mrieħel indus- trial estate entry point and the Msida square connection to Regional Road and the Pieta coast road. ese projects must be discussed with local communities and alternative solu- tions that are less disturbing to agricul- tural land and foot commuters should explored. Over the coming years, these projects will be joined by government's new sev- en-year programme to create surface gardens and pedestrian areas by sink- ing main roads and roofing over them. is is another ambitious programme that will hopefully create new under- ground parking facilities and provide open spaces to beautify communities. e millions that have been spent and will continue being spent on road and garden infrastructure were necessary to improve the quality of life. Communicating is a necessity that we cannot do without and from a business point of view it helps to do this as effi- ciently as possible. But the pandemic has also taught us the importance of digital communica- tion to carry out business. e digital infrastructure to support this is as important as the road net- work, especially in a global environ- ment where distance no longer acts as a barrier to trade, transactions, and ex- change of information. Statistics released this week by the Malta Communications Authority show that mobile phone subscriptions in the Q4 2021 stood at just under 645,000. is represents an increase of almost 12,000 subscriptions over the same quarter a year earlier. Similarly, there were 221,198 fixed broadband subscriptions of which 62% had connections of 100Mbps or higher. e list continues; there were 108,389 digital cable subscriptions and a further 66,391 IPTV subscriptions. e Maltese are well-connected and the take up of digital services is very good in an environment that has three big players. International research into internet speeds, compiled by Cable.co.uk and M-Lab last year, showed that Malta had the 21st-highest mean internet down- load speed in the world, at 85.2Mbps. e analysis of over 1.1 billion broad- band speed tests worldwide placed Malta ahead of countries like Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. e results are encouraging and are witness to the progress done over the years to have a robust digital infrastruc- ture. But in an ever-evolving world, Malta cannot rest on its laurels. It needs to en- sure the digital infrastructure remains strong and this should include Gozo. International connectivity must also be strengthened to provide a solid back- bone for the development of bandwidth hungry digital industries. e develop- ment by GO of an undersea cable con- necting Malta to the Marseille-Egypt link was an important development be- cause it provides the first cable link out- side Sicily thus cutting down on delays. Continuous investment in the digi- tal infrastructure must not be under- estimated, especially if Malta wants to target new economy operators in a post-COVID revival. Providing the right physical ecosys- tem and adequate fiscal incentives will pave the way for innovative high-pay- ing digital industries to set up base in Malta. Strengthening the digital road infrastructure 7.4.2022