'We are not at the IT Fair'

In the run-up to this year's Information Technology and Telecommunications (IT&T) Fair, consumers were bombarded with mixed messages. While the organisers promoted the event, one of the major IT vendors in the country, who was a main sponsor of the same fair in the last couple of years, showered radio listeners and put up billboards declaring it has special offers but also insisting "We are not at the IT Fair". Another vendor who had been a regular exhibitor at the fair for several years adopted the same approach.

The feeling that something was wrong was confirmed when i-Tech visited the fair. The number of exhibitors at this year's edition was very low, one of the worst in the last 10 years.

Two years ago i-Tech had reported that the popularity of the IT&T fair was in decline. In 2002 there were 85 exhibitors, in 2003 the number went down to 64, and in 2004 there were 53. Last year it was 50 and this year we could not check the exact figure because the organisers did not publish the official catalogue. Our count was even less than last year.

Exhibitors present this year told i-Tech that the expense to put up a stand at the IT&T fair remains hefty, running into a few thousands which are not easily recouped over five days.

The biggest expense seems to be exhibition space, which in the face of desertion of exhibitors along the years, was not revised to attract more interest.

The big guns were present, as always, and they gobbled up most of the exhibitors' space. But there were several established IT companies that deserted this year's edition. Two of the four main sponsors of last year's edition were not present this year; one of them actually boasted it was not present at the fair.

i-Tech does not have in hand official statistics of visitors to this year's fair but the general impression of exhibitors is that attendance was poor compared to previous years, though not directly proportional to the desertion by exhibitors.

Visitors did find some interesting offers on PC systems, a very limited selection of software, and good offers on internet broadband and mobile telephony. A common factor among these offers was that similar offers are being provided all year round and the IT&T fair has lost its unique position as the event where to find the best offers during the year.

The wait for Vista, the upcoming version of the Windows operating system, did not leave its mark. Exhibitors confirmed with i-Tech that this wait is not generally affecting the sale of new computer systems. However, users are starting to take advantage of the very good prices on notebook computers and many are actively considering to purchase one instead of a desktop computer.

One aspect that stood out this year, contrary to previous years, was the educational element. The stand by the Ministry for Industry, Investment and Information Technology was focused on the myPotential initiative that promotes specialised IT training in conjunction with established private local IT trainers. The Malta Computer Society was also promoting its services to IT professionals, while the Malta Communications Authority raised awareness on electromagnetic fields and safe internet use.

Despite all the negatives of the year's edition, the event was an eye opener. The keen IT observer could pick up significant developments in the local IT scene.

Melita Cable was promoting a new package - the digital cable TV + broadband internet access service for a flat monthly fee. This bundling is set to become local industry standard with the internal reorganisation of Maltacom after its privatisation. In a few months' time we will be able to buy broadband internet access, mobile telephony or fixed-line telephony or both, and a digital TV service from the same company in one package, whether it's Melita Cable or Maltacom providing it.

Although Maltacom is yet to launch its digital terrestrial TV (DTTV) network, the fair was abound with rumours that Maltacom was going to take over Multiplus, the DTTV operator which had obtained a licence together with Maltacom and had started operations last year. The rumour mill was set in motion after Maltanet, a subsidiary of Maltacom, joined forces with Multiplus at this year's fair to provide an offer on internet broadband and DTTV.

Another significant development was the merger between NextWeb and Keyworld, meaning more consolidation between the local Internet Service Providers (ISP). NextWeb is itself a result of the merger between EuroWeb and Nextgen last year.

This second round of consolidation after the spate in the late 1990s is a clear indication that in the near future we will have less competing companies in the cutthroat market. However, this won't necessarily mean there will be less competition and the user will be worse off for early next year they will have a new technology at hand for broadband internet access: broadband wireless access (BWA). This will be provided by Vodafone Malta, Go Mobile and Cellcom (a consortium of local ISPs including NextWeb, Keyworld and Waldonet).

This edition of the IT&T fair is the last one organised at the grounds at Naxxar. As from next year it should be held under a huge tent at Ta' Qali. Maybe by then the organisers would have realised that the IT fair is like no other fair and start promoting it in more adventurous ways.

Eleven years after internet was launched in Malta at the IT&T fair of 1995 and everything remotely related to a computer being connected to internet, neither the Malta Trade Fairs Corporation nor the IT&T fair itself have a website to promote themselves.

http://technology.timesofmalta.com/article.php?id=2396