Policy & Planning Unit

The Policy and Planning Unit serves as a focal point for the MCA's policy development and review, the formulation of operational strategies in line with Government policy and ensures coordination of this role with strategic and business planning, as well as regular performance reviews.  As part of its planning and performance review function, this Unit is also responsible for financial management, including the invoicing and collection of licence and authorization fees, the overall management of the Authority’s revenues and expenditures and for liaison with Government in relation to matters dealing with cash flow and reporting obligations.

The Unit also tests the level of competition in designated markets on the basis of ‘ex ante’ regulation in both the electronic communications and postal sectors.  These tests, which are at the hub of the MCA’s regulatory activity, are carried out via market analysis exercises in line with competition law precepts and determine the extent to which the MCA needs to impose remedies in the relevant markets.  

A third, equally important strand of the Unit’s activities is to be found in the research function, which is carried out with the objective of keeping the Authority up-to-date with local and international developments, whilst keeping abreast with local market developments via regular surveys in order to forecast any new developments and future trends. The Unit regularly publishes market information updates and market reviews, providing an overview of the trends in the sectors.

Integrated into this unit, is the Authority’s legal function, providing advice on legal issues that relate to the various sectors falling within its remit. The legal function is responsible for advising and dealing with any litigation concerning the MCA, handling inter-operator disputes, and advising on ‘user vs operator’ complaints. On this note, in close liaison with the consumer section, the legal function also ensures that consumer protection rules are honoured and undertakes enforcement and sanctioning actions when service providers default. Other responsibilities include legal drafting, debt collection and the handling of defaults concerning data collection in liaison with the Operations Unit.