Censu Galea

Competitiveness and Communications Minister the Hon. Censu Galea Launches consultation documents on new Communication technologies

“The electronic communications revolution is one of the catalysts driving national administrations to keep abreast with technology developments and a key tool in competing in a global economy” Minister Censu Galea

The Subsidiary Legislation under the Electronic Communications (Regulation) Act, was today launched by Competitiveness and Communications Minister Censu Galea. The Minister explained that subsidiary legislation was drawn up following the publication in February 2004 of a White Paper setting out the principles underpinning a proposed new regulatory framework for electronic communications markets.

The White Paper proposed various amendments to the Malta Communications Authority Act and the Telecommunications (Regulation) Act. These amendments introduced fundamental changes to the current regulatory framework applicable to electronic communications. A number of submissions were received by this Ministry following publication of the White Paper. These submissions were reviewed and the proposed amendments revised as appropriate. A Bill to amend various Communications Laws was published on the 16th April. The bill has passed the committee stage in Parliament.

The primary legislation as proposed in the Bill establishes the principles upon which the regulation of these markets will be based. The details of the new framework are to be set out in regulations.

Minister Galea said that the proposed regulations are now being published for public consultation. They are important provisions, since they will determine the manner by which operators in this sector will be regulated, as well as the rights of end-users. They also set out various powers and duties of the regulator – the Malta Communications Authority.

Competitiveness and Communications Minister, the Hon. Censu Galea also launched a consultation process on proposed strategies for Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting, Third Generation Mobile telephony(UMTS) and Fixed Wireless access. The minister said that these strategies are based on proposals put forward to the Government by the Malta Communications Authority.

Minister Galea said that all three strategies can be addressed independently of each other. However, it has been deemed more feasible to issue these concurrently. All three media, which the respective strategies address, carry the potential for so called ‘triple play’, that is the ability to carry sound, vision and data. It is therefore ideal to present existing operators and prospective investors with as comprehensive a picture as possible as to the potential shape of the market and the envisaged networks and services that should be available in the foreseeable future. This should facilitate forward planning and investment decisions on the part of market players.

The Competitiveness and Communications Minister said that electronic communications revolution is one of the catalysts driving national administrations to keep abreast with technology developments, while at the same time ensuring that the institutional and regulatory frameworks are in place, so that sustainable sectoral and national development can take place. Europe has recognised this necessity to the extent that a host of initiatives have been taking place during the last decade, with the pace accelerating somewhat during the last five years.

Malta is actively participating in this revolution and membership in the European Union has been a further spur for achieving parity with the best. The intention is ultimately that of achieving a comprehensive Information Society. “Malta has to be at the forefront of developments if we want to ensure a prosperous future for our Nation and remain competitive” said Minister Galea.

Government has been intensely involved in developing the right environment Information Society, that is the regulatory framework necessary to bring about a robust and competitive electronic communications infrastructure on which Information Society Services invariably depend. This policy has resulted in the effective liberalisation of the electronic communications sector and an environment that is conducive to competition” the competitiveness and communications Minster Galea concluded.