In accordance with national law, the designated undertaking providing universal services in the electronic communications sector, GO plc, has the right to request compensation for the net costs it considers to have incurred in providing part or all of the universal services. In 2019, the MCA received an application from GO plc claiming funding for the net costs it believed to have incurred during the financial year 2018. The MCA commissioned Ernst & Young Limited (EY) as an independent body to analyse and verify the application received. Following this review, the total net costs after deducting intangible benefits for providing universal services amounted to €126,547. In September 2023, the MCA published a consultation and proposed decision on the review of GO plc’s application for funding of the net costs claimed to have been incurred to provide universal service obligations during 2018. Subsequently a decision notice was published based on its proposed decisions in October 2023. A proposed decision is now being published on the source of funding for the compensation of the net cost found to be incurred by GO plc for providing specific universal services during 2018. Following an analysis by the MCA on the final assessment of the claim for funding in relation to the USOs provided by GO plc during 2018, and in line with a decision by the Government of Malta, the established total amount of €126,547 may be financed from public funds. The consultation period shall run from the 7th November 2023 to the 21st November 2023.
