A survey on ICT usage by enterprises in 2008 revealed that 62.5 per cent of enterprises employing 10 or more full-time equivalent employees have the facility of a website.

The objective of this survey was to obtain relevant indicators on information communication technology usage by Maltese enterprises. A census of around 1,200 enterprises employing 10 or more and falling within different NACE categories was carried out. A sample of 1,300 micro enterprises was randomly chosen for this survey. Data on enterprises operating in NACE categories 65 and 66 are being presented separately, the reason being that not all sections of the questionnaire addressed to enterprises were relevant to them. These categories cover enterprises engaged in financial intermediation, insurance and pension funds.

This data is comparable to the data of other EU countries which participated in this exercise.

Computer and internet availability by enterprises

The vast majority of enterprises that employ a 10+ full-time equivalent workforce make use of a computer. Within micro enterprises, companies operating within the hotel and accommodation sector emerged as the group that make most use of computers. With regard to the internet, the proportion of enterprises that have access to this medium was estimated at 62.8 per cent for micro enterprises and 91.8 per cent for 10+ full-time equivalent enterprises. Broadband penetration is over 95 per cent for all the size classes surveyed.

Internet use by enterprises

Eighty-one per cent of 10+ enterprises with internet access make use of online banking and financial services. The following findings result from questions addressed to the proportion of enterprises – irrespective of size class – which are internet users. Around 20 per cent of enterprises with less than 10 employees offer training courses through the internet. E-government services are utilised by 80.9 per cent of small to large enterprises and, to a lower extent, by 67.6 per cent of micro enterprises. Obtaining information and downloading forms from government institutions are the online services most sought for by enterprises. E-procurement is the egovernment service least used by all NACE categories.

Over 62 per cent of 10+ enterprises have the facility of a website or webpage. On the other hand less than 50 per cent of micro industries with internet access have such a facility.

The results of the survey indicate that around 14 per cent of enterprises practise ecommerce both for sales and purchases. More than half the enterprises within the hotel and accommodation industry receive orders either through their website or through other automated data exchange. With regard to placing online orders, i.e. e-purchasing, the largest proportions of enterprises with such practices emerged as 1-9 full-time equivalent industries in the transport, storage and communication sector – nearly 19 per cent; and 10+ full-time equivalent enterprises in wholesale and retail trade – just over 18 per cent.

ICT usage by enterprises engaged in financial intermediation, insurance and pensions funds

The majority of enterprises operating in these categories have computer and internet access. Nearly 74 per cent have their own website on their space on a webpage while more than half utilise e-government services. In addition, 50 per cent of such enterprises offer training and education to their employees through online facilities.

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