NEWS | Wednesday, 17 September 2008

MCA allocates 77- range to Melita Mobile

Charlot Zahra

The Malta Communications Authority (MCA) has allocated the 77- range to Melita Mobile, the third mobile telephony licensee which will have its own infrastructure.
As a result, Melita Mobile subscribers will be allocated an eight-digit number between 77000000 and 77999999 when the service kicks off in the near future.
Melita Mobile-specific services, such as directory enquiries, will be allocated the 168- prefix.
In addition, Melita Mobile’s free phone services will be allocated the 8003-7 prefix, while Melita Mobile’s premium services will be allocated the 5003-7 prefix.
The licence for the rights of use of radio frequencies for the establishment of the third mobile telephony network in the 3G band was originally granted to 3G Telecommunications Limited (3GT) by the MCA on 16 August last year.
However barely a month later, 3GT’s mother company, MC Joint Venture Partners, a Boston-based venture capital firm specialising in communications services, related information technology and new media, took a minority stake in Melita alongside GMT Communications Partners and the Gasan Group, and transferred its mobile telephony licence to the cable company as a result.
Melita thus become the second quad-band telecoms operator in Malta alongside GO to offer fixed-line telephony, mobile telephony, internet and television under one company.

[email protected]