Number Portability in Malta - Consultation and Proposed Decision

Malta’s number portability regime was put 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, local end-users subscribed to 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 issue of Directive 2018/1972 establishing the European Electronic Communications Code (EECC). This Directive also introduces a number of legal amendments relative to number portability.

Following the coming into force of the national legislation transposing the EECC in Malta on 1 October 2021, the MCA is now proceeding with the publication of this consultation document with proposed updates to the number portability regime in Malta and the corresponding proposed updated Specifications in pdf format hereunder. Interested parties are invited to take this opportunity to contribute to this process.