Well, let us start by examining the frustrations normally encountered whilst chatting on and off the Internet with Maltese users:

• The first, common frustration is trying to get through to one's provider... "I've dialled from 6.00pm to 9.00pm and finally managed to get through.... to get disconnected after five minutes!"

• This leads, in fact, to the second frustration: Staying online once online... Many users have faced the 'disconnection blues' which (albeit verbally) have placed them to a very close state with the ancestors of Telemalta (Malta's state owned telephone company), their ISP's or to anyone's in general...

• The third frustration lies in being thrown in front of a PC screen and expecting users to avail themselves of the Internet without proper induction to the basics... and then complaining to the users because 'they are dumb'!

• The fourth frustration lies in being told that the above problems are due to inferior hardware or software.... when the system was recommended and installed by the ISP or his representatives in the first place... or, even better still, regardless of the fact that one has a state-of-the-art, 100% effective and finely tuned system!

• The final frustration - after all of the above - is when one is faced by arbitrary increases in rates or in changes in service regardless of the fact that one would have prepaid a service in advance.... The main 'let-off' on the part of the ISP (i.e. the culprit) would be to tell the user 'either you digest this quietly or we'll refund you and leave...'

• It didn't benefit 'bona fide' ISPs which invested heavily (and now are faced with a point of saturation since the subscription rates are not adequate for the low number of users they can technically and competitively manage).

• It didn't benefit Government (because it didn't use the Internet as a strategic medium).

• It didn't benefit the private sector (because it is now not utilising the benefits of electronic commerce and thus are losing out on excellent business opportunities).

• It didn't benefit educators (because they underplayed the strong didactic and research potential of the net).

• It didn't benefit commercial banks (because they are losing the potential of electronic banking - as may be witnessed by examining the developments in e-banking in the US and Europe).

• It didn't benefit Telemalta (which could be making millions by offering low-cost international bandwidth to a wider number of users on the lines of MCI, AlterNET, Telecom Italia, AT&T and so on - and also because Malta could serve as a Mediterranean hub to North African countries).

• It didn't benefit Malta (because there is little awareness of the benefits of the Internet on national opportunities in the global market and context).

• It didn't benefit us, the user, because we are happy with the current situation since most of us are not aware of what a REAL Internet connection really means and because even though we experience the Internet's benefits and problems, we do nothing but grumble and are all so fearful or just plain lazy to take the remedial action which we could take...

You can arrive at this answer yourself: Imagine if a problem arose (not that there aren't at the moment) with an ISP who would be supplying an inadequate service (of whatever nature) and a delegation of a User Group representing, say, 300 Maltese Internet users would advise that 'either you clean up your act or we'll recommend our members to look elsewhere.' What do you think the reaction will be?

Imagine an Internet Users' Group with lobbying power due to its number of members and due to its seriousness of purpose and representation at council level. Would it not make a difference if, for once, IT and Internet matters were viewed not from the supplier point alone but also to the end user point?

Imagine an Internet Users' Group aiding in creating a growing awareness of internet amongst the general public: This would help dispell any false ideas that Internet users are online 'to pick up cyberpartners and to peruse pornographic material.' (Incidentally, on a recent radio programme, a representative from one of the leading ISPs in Malta mentioned that the majority of this ISP's users went online for pornography! This is just to show what we're really facing...)

Remember one thing: The Internet is THE revolution in mass-media and communications and in the way we work, shop, entertain ourselves, communicate... As a country, we can't afford to be off it in full force... and this is up to us, the current pioneers in Malta, to own up to our responsibilities, stand up to our rights and stop nagging on IRC or at University.
 

Conclusion

Finally, I must here not forget to mention that a Union of Internet Users was in the formation by a number of mainly University students (visit this site for details). In a recent exchange of email in the internetmalta maillist, it was announced that this 'association' was dormant because its key members had exams and that it would be revived now that exams have finished..

It must be here lauded that this effort was undertaken but it must be stressed that unless a strategic vision is built, a strong representation and user base covering all types of users is formed and unless full committment and support is built, such ventures will have an even worse effects because Maltese users will give the impression that they are not interested in being represented.

Interested in forming or involving yourself in a user group? Contact us now!