The Malta Communications Authority (MCA) has had “an extraordinarily challenging year,” MCA chairman Joseph Tabone said yesterday while launching the authority’s annual report for 2005.
“At the start-up of the authority we thought that the run-up to liberalisation would be the toughest, however the past year has taught us that post liberalisation is even more difficult to manage,” Mr Tabone added.
The MCA – which oversees the fixed line and mobile telephony, electronic communications, the postal services and e-commerce markets – plays a strategic role in creating conditions conducive to innovation, investment, competition and consumer welfare in the sectors it regulates.
While the MCA’s remit is multifaceted, the bulk of its work this year has centred around a number of market reviews aimed at determining the areas in which competition is lacking and where it is effective. While the market reviews, such as those undertaken with respect to fixed line and mobile telephony, ensure the right rules are in place, the MCA also strives to balance safeguarding competition with providing the right environments for innovation and investment.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Mr Tabone cited the assignment of spectra for wireless technologies such as 3G mobile telephony, digital terrestrial telephony and broadband wireless access as a major milestone reached over the last year.
Mr Tabone said: “These developments represent investments of several million liri and, more importantly, additional broadband, mobile telephony and TV distribution services for consumers.” Innovative services and better value for money for the consumer, he added, is at the heart of both the industry and regulatory environment.
The MCA cited the communications industry as one such area offering increased choice and value for money, with new entrants penetrating the market, tariffs decreasing and market competition flourishing.
“It is widely acknowledged that this authority has come a long way in its brief existence,” Mr Tabone added. “Its value should be measured in the results and consequent respect it has been able to achieve. As an organisation we have attained credibility both locally and overseas, where our input has been disproportionate to our size.”
Postal services, Mr Tabone explains, have undergone a radical revision over the last year with an efficiency review having been carried out and new quality measures implemented to ensure the integrity of mail.
On the EC’s recent decision on the thorny issue of roaming charges when making or receiving phone calls when abroad, Mr Tabone welcomed the review tabled last week by Commissioner Reding and the measures proposed in terms of wholesale price levels. But, once implemented, the MCA will be ready to take action should the expected price benefits not be seen trickling down to consumer level.
The MCA, as part of its remit, has been coordinating with Malta’s security services for the procurement of cost-effective technology for legal interception activities related to telephony and the internet.