Numbering Allocation Procedures

The procedures governing numbering allocations to service providers depends on the numbering resource type and the intended service offering.

ITU-T E.164 Telephone Numbering Resources

For the allocation of ITU-T E.164 telephone numbering blocks intended for Fixed Telephony (2X), Mobile Telephony (7X/9X), M2M/IoT Connectivity Services and Other Non-ICS (4X), Premium Rate Services (5X) and Freephone Numbers (800X), the applicable procedure can be found in the National Numbering Conventions.

Details on the allocation procedure for short codes can be found in Section 9 of the Decision Development of the Numbering Plan. Whilst short codes can range in length from 3-digit to 5-digits, the MCA is restricting the allocation of 3-digit short codes in order to safeguard against number scarcity in the 1X numbering range.

More information on the allocation of responsibility to deliver harmonised social services under a Harmonised European Short Code (HESC) in the 116 XXX numbering range can be found here.

Other Numbering Resources

The MCA also oversees the allocation to service providers of other numbering resources related to the provision of electronic communications networks and services, such as ITU-T E.212 Mobile Country Code and Mobile Network Code combinations (MCC+MNC) used in International Mobile Subscription Identities (IMSIs), ITU-T E.118 Issuer Identifier Numbers (IINs) for Integrated Circuit Card Identifiers (ICCIDs), National Signalling Point Codes (NSPC) ranges, and ITU-T Q.708 International Signalling Point Codes (ISPCs). 

Information on the allocation procedure is provided to applicants upon request. For enquiries, send an email to the MCA on numbering@mca.org.mt.