Maltacom runs up Lm30,000 in fines

Maltacom has so far incurred Lm30,000 in fines, imposed by the Malta Communications Authority for refusing to provide certain services to Vodafone.

The fine is of Lm1,000 a day and started to run on January 14.

Maltacom decided not to provide some services to Vodafone after filing court proceedings against the rival mobile phone operator last October to recover Lm483,000 it claims it is owed for the provision of signalling services since January, 2000. The action is still pending.

Maltacom had then initiated court proceedings against the authority to contest the imposition of the fine.

A spokesman for the authority yesterday said it was closely following court developments. He said the Constitutional Court, presided by Mr Justice Geoffrey Valenzia, will deliver its decree on Maltacom's application against the authority on March 5.

In the meantime, the daily fine will continue to be imposed.

Maltacom is still providing signalling services to Vodafone, but according to the regulator it is denying the provision of a leased line between Vodafone Malta and Swisscom and an additional signalling link between Vodafone's switch and Maltacom's Birkirkara switch.

The authority argues that while Maltacom should not be required to provide a service for which it was not being paid, it could not just stop providing additional services to Vodafone.