Digital broadcasting

The Malta Communications Authority wishes to clarify impressions that may have been conveyed by the article titled Pay-TV Alternative on Offer Soon (October 16).

Multiplus Ltd was granted a licence by the MCA on July 14, 2004 for the provision of a television service subject to the allocation of the necessary radio frequencies and within the context of a policy framework for digital broadcasting and transmission that was in formulation.

A consultation exercise driven by the government was effectively in train at the time with a deadline for submissions of September 30. The consultation document sets out a competitive, equitable and transparent process for the award of DTTV distribution services. Submissions received by the government are currently being analysed to determine the final policy. Until such time as this policy is announced, including a methodology for distributing radio spectrum, Multiplus is not in a position to commercially offer the services described in the article.

Nonetheless, the Ministry for Competitiveness and Communications and the MCA, in the interest of encouraging innovative commercial initiatives such as Multiplus, have allocated radio spectrum to the company for a period of six months to enable it to conduct trials. It is hoped that by this time a policy for the equitable allocation of radio spectrum for DTTV distribution will be in place.