Viewers using a booster to improve reception of Italian free to air stations may possibly experience problems with their reception, the Malta Communications Authority (MCA) said.

The cause was that due to recent international decisions relating to the allocation of radio spectrum frequencies, the MCA was bound to instruct national network operators, like GO, to make technical changes to their transmissions, so as to use frequencies assigned to Malta.

In this regard, Malta, like any sovereign country, was required to abide by international agreements related to terrestrial broadcasting (TV and radio transmissions received via aerials), the MCA said.

A booster amplifies all incoming signals, whether these are coming from Malta, Italy or another neighbouring country; this may in itself serve to overload the booster, causing a decrease in signal level of the analogue transmissions.

In situations where viewers are experiencing problems, the removal of the booster or having the local reception antennae by-pass the booster should ensure effective reception of national television stations.

The reception in Malta of Italian terrestrial transmissions, or stations from other countries, was not protected, the MCA said. National authorities therefore cannot intervene to ensure the good reception of these stations in Malta, more so when national network operators are abiding by international agreements and national requirements.