Numbering Plan Management
As the National Regulatory Authority for the electronic communications sector, the MCA also acts as the Numbering Plan Administrator (NPA) for Malta. In its role as NPA, the MCA is responsible for the development and management of the National Numbering Plan, which provides the necessary framework delineating the award of rights of use for numbers, as well as conditions for the use of numbering resources. The MCA plays a role in the allocation of various numbering resources, including ITU-T E.164 telephone numbering resources, network-specific numbering resources such as those under ITU-T E.212 (IMSIs) and ITU-T E.118 (ICCIDs), as well as National and International Signalling Point Codes (NSPCs / ISPCs). A list of all MCA numbering frameworks can be found here.
Development of the Numbering Plan
The MCA takes the view that numbering should be organised for the benefit of end-users and in a manner that supports evolving market requirements. In this regard, the MCA has established a numbering framework that provides regulatory certainty for service providers while safeguarding end-users’ rights. This framework is laid out in the MCA’s Decision Development of the Numbering Plan.
The MCA also publishes and keeps constantly updated a summary of all national numbering allocations, a short code matrix, and other information on harmonised European short codes (that is, short codes in the 116 XXX range).
National Numbering Conventions
The purpose of the National Numbering Conventions is to establish procedures that define the responsibilities of the different stakeholders and ensure that allocated numbering resources are put into service in an objective, transparent, non-discriminatory and timely manner.
For information on how to apply for the allocation of numbering resources, including numbering blocks and specific allocations such as short codes, visit the Numbering Allocation Procedures page.
Numbering Frameworks for Specific Services
The MCA has also put in place numbering frameworks which apply to specific categories of service, as follows:
Premium Rate Services: A framework for those services that are accessible by means of a number in the Maltese Numbering Plan starting with a ‘5’ digit, where the charge is higher than for normal telephone calls or text messages, and where some of the charge is passed on to the Premium Rate Service Provider, such as a content provider or beneficiary of a donation.
Freephone numbers in the 800 range: This framework governs the use of Freephone numbers starting with ‘800’. Numbers starting with ‘8000’ are free for callers from both fixed and mobile numbers. For other numbers in the 800X range, calls are only free to callers from a fixed network.
Numbering Resources for M2M/IoT Connectivity Services (and other Non-Interpersonal Communications Services (Non-ICS)): This framework addresses the use of numbers in the context of Machine-to-Machine (M2M) scenarios, Internet of Things (IoT) as well as other Non-ICS.