MCA rolls out comparison website for telecom tariffs

Which internet plan should I subscribe to for my home? Should I opt for a communications services bundle? Which smartphone is best for me? Do I need a tablet with internet access after all? What are the best rates at which to make calls when overseas?

Many consumers have remained on the same tariff since subscribing to their service

These are some of the questions most of us ask when deciding which communication services we need or afford. But the wide choice is often confusing.

A recent initiative by the Malta Communications Authority aims to make it far simpler for us to find what’s available on the market and help us make our choices in terms of services and pricing, through a free tool at www.telecosts.com.

“The number of different tariff plans and bundled offers has grown significantly over the past years as a direct result of increased competition. Consumers may struggle to identify the tariff plan or offer that would benefit them the most, particularly in view of the multi-player environment that has evolved,” an MCA representative explained.

“From our experience, we have seen that many consumers have remained on the same tariff since subscribing to their service. Such consumers may potentially be missing out on more advantageous offers. We also feel that it is a tool that will contribute to enhanced competition by driving service providers to strive to have their tariff plans and offers topping the lists.”

The website provides comparison on fixed-line, mobile, broadband and bundled tariff plans by different Maltese service providers in one place. The system will initially invite you to provide some basic information on how you use the service, such as, in the case of mobile telephony approximate duration of your calls, approximate number of monthly text messages sent, the time of the day you mostly use your phone, and so on.

Based on these choices, the system will provide information on the tariff plans that provide the nearest match to you parameters.

The information provided on this website is updated regularly as it is managed directly by the service provider themselves. It is therefore in the service providers’ interest to ensure that the information is updated with the most recent tariff plans and offers.

The system asks numerous questions on the type of service required but the price remains one of the most – if not the most – important factor.

However the website urges consumers to be aware that price is not everything. The conditions of service and quality-related information is also important to help consumers take decisions.

“Price will always be an important factor for users when buying a communication service, however value for money, service quality levels, the terms and conditions and the level of customer service offered by a particular service provider are playing a greater part in the decision-making process,” the spokesman added.

In the meantime, users seeking to test the speed of their internet connection can go to www.nethealth.net.mt, which is another service offered by the communications regulator. The service has been upgraded to handle internet speeds up to 75 megabits per second.