About Spectrum

Radio spectrum is used to carry information wirelessly for a vast number of everyday services ranging from television and sound broadcasting, mobile phones and Radio LANs to communications systems used for the emergency services, aeronautical, land and maritime radiocommunications and, navigation. So many vital services are completely reliant on spectrum that it forms an indispensable part of all of our lives – and one that is often taken for granted. Yet in a world which demands ever increasing amounts of information, faster communications and higher definition media, it is important to be aware that useable radio spectrum is a scarce resource where rapidly growing demand exceeds supply.

This scarce resource is owned by Government and the MCA, under the Electronic Communications (Regulation) Act, Cap. 399, is responsible for effectively managing the radio frequency spectrum in Malta. It does this on behalf of the Government. Objectiveness, transparency, non-discriminatory and proportionality are key criteria in the MCA's task.  They reflect the principles laid out in the European framework for electronic communications.