LICENSING

The Telecommunications (Regulation) Act and other subsidiary legislation, principally the Telecommunications Services (General) Regulations, regulate the manner in which licences for telecommunications systems and services are regulated. The MCA is responsible for the granting of licenses or authorisations to operate a telecommunications system, or to provide a telecommunications service in Malta.
Licences may include conditions which prescribe:
- The payment to the MCA of fees on the grant of the licence and/or during the currency of the licence;
- Conditions requiring the licensee to comply with any directions given by the MCA as to questions and other matters related to the licence;
- Any other conditions as may be prescribed.
If a licensee does not comply with any of the conditions attached to a licence, the MCA has the power to withdraw, amend or suspend the licence or impose specific measures aimed at ensuring compliance. No licence, or any other form of authorisation, may be transferred or assigned by the authorised provider to another person without the prior consent in writing of the MCA. A change in the control of the ownership or management of an authorised provider is deemed equivalent to a change or transfer of an authorisation.