Decision Notice 'Number Portability in Malta'
Malta’s number portability regime was brought into effect in March 2005, when the Malta Communications Authority (MCA) published its Decision entitled ‘Introducing Number Portability in Malta’. This Decision was the result of a comprehensive process of consultation and cross-industry collaboration that had been initiated by the MCA in October 2003.
Through the implementation of number portability, end-users subscribed to local voice communications services are able to retain their telephone number when they change their service provider. Thus, number portability is considered essential to maximise the benefits of a competitive telecommunications market and to promote end-user choice.
In December 2018, the EU regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services experienced a significant overhaul with the adoption of Directive 2018/1972 establishing the European Electronic Communications Code (EECC). Subsequently, the transposition process of this Directive triggered the need for corresponding amendments relative to the national legal framework for number portability.
Following the coming into force of the national legislation transposing the EECC in Malta on 1 October 2021, the MCA published a consultation paper entitled ‘Number Portability in Malta’ with the scope to provide interested parties the opportunity to contribute towards the updating of the number portability regime in Malta. During the consultation period, which ran between 15 December 2021 and 15 February 2022, the Authority received feedback from three local providers of voice communications services. The Authority is hereby publishing its Decision Notice ‘Number Portability in Malta’ and it is also sending revised Specification documents to the local providers of voice communications services.
With a view to allow sufficient time to align internal systems and operations with this Decision Notice, providers of voice communications services are being given a further opportunity to provide feedback on the new Specification documents. These will be published in their final form on the Authority's website in Q1 2023, prior to the coming into force of all new requirements emanating from the Decision Notice which is set to 1 June 2023.