PM’s mocking of Labour’s free Wi-Fi proposal backfires

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi's mocking of Labour's Wi-Fi proposal during the launch of the local council electoral manifesto last week seems to have backfired, after a One TV presenter and cameraman visited the free Wi-Fi service sites across Malta and found a good percentage to be out of service.

One of the PL's proposals called for the installation of Wi-Fi and internet in public spaces. Gonzi mocked PL for its proposal, stating that a PN government had long ago proposed the idea and executed it by installing free Wi-Fi across public spaces in various towns and villages.

One TV's satirical current affairs programme Illostra on Thursday night showed the programme's presenter visiting various towns and villages while lampooning the Prime Minister for having mocked Labour in the first place, after finding out that certain localities hosting the free service were not functioning. The presenter used his mobile phone to test whether the Wi-Fi was functioning. He sarcastically also kept addressing the Prime Minister by 'Sur Gonzi' every time he came across a town where a Wi-Fi connection was out of service.

The first of 80 Wi-Fi spots in public places had been inaugurated by transport and communications Minister Austin Gatt at the Old Railway Station Garden in Birkirkara back in 2009. Another two Wi-Fi spots were simultaneously switched on at Independence Gardens in Sliema and the area around St Aloysius College in Birkirkara.

Gatt was quoted as saying that this was an initiative to encourage greater use of the internet, which had a penetration rate of 63% at the time.

Many websites promoting Malta boast over the free Wi-Fi hotspots dotted around the islands.

One website states on its homepage: "The majority of free Wi-Fi spots are in the Sliema/St Julian's/Valletta areas, but others can be located - you just have to know where to find them. People owning a laptop or an iPod Touch, can easily obtain internet access on the hoof."

When contacted by MaltaToday on why the service was not functioning in certain localities, Amanda Ciappara, the communications coordinator of the Ministry for Infrastructure, Transport and Communications, said:

"Following the Ministry's communication on the matter with the Malta Communications Authority (MTA), I would like to point out that all local councils offer free Wi-Fi services from within the local council's premises and free Wi-Fi connections in most corresponding localities, with the exception of Ta' Xbiex, which will be installed in the coming days, and Msida, as power supply is not yet available.

"Connections in public spaces vary from town and village squares to public gardens and libraries, amongst others. It is therefore important that when testing such connections, such tests are carried out from the correct location.

"In fact, in response to MT's question, the ministry has been informed that in three of the localities visited by the One TV journalist, connections were indeed tested from the wrong location.

"We can confirm however that connections in Sant'Anna, Qui Si Sana, Attard, Qormi, and Mellieha had already been reported to the MCA that they were not functioning. Remedial action has already been taken and it is expected that these will be fully operational in the coming days. 

"With regards to the connection in Siggiewi, this connection has been out of service because the local council has been refurbishing the premises which is now complete and the service restored."

When asked whose responsibility it was to report such faults, Ciappara said that "the responsibility lies within the local councils, who are to report any faults to the 'responsible entities'".

When asked why the connection failed in certain localities, Ciappara said: "The reason why connections may not function from time to time vary. We can confirm however that sometimes it is simply due to the modem not being connected to the main electrical supply or due to hardware failures, a normal occurrence with such a large number of connections."