On the 12th September 2016, the MCA has published a Call for Expression of Interest for the Assignment of Spectrum in the 800 MHz band (MCA/O/16-2662). GO plc, Melita Limited, and Vodafone Malta Limited have expressed their interest in order to obtain access to the rights of use for radio frequencies in the band in question.
Given that the demand for such spectrum, as expressed in the response to the Call for Expression of Interest, did not exceed the amount of spectrum available, the MCA shall proceed with the assignment of the 800 MHz spectrum directly to the interested candidates. The assignment process for spectrum in the 800 MHz band is defined in the Decision (MCA/D/14-1933). Those candidates who have expressed interest in acquiring right of use for the 800 MHz band are now required to participate in a process leading to a Qualification Phase. The MCA will assess the suitability for assignment of spectrum to the interested candidates based on a set of criteria that will be established in a Request for Information that will be published soon. Failure by the interested candidates to submit the requested information on time or fail to pass the Qualification Phase assessment will result in discarding the relevant Expression of Interest and eventually the interested candid! ate will be unable to acquire spectrum rights in the 800 MHz band.