No action is planned against telecommunications company Go for failing to print the new telephone directory under its public service obligations, The Times has learnt.
The news comes after it was revealed in Parliament that the Malta Information Technology Agency stepped in to do the job, despite not knowing how much it would cost.
A spokeswoman for the IT Ministry said Go would not suffer any consequences for failing to fulfil its obligations. She had no further comment to make.
The Malta Communications Authority had tasked Go with providing a fixed line directory as the last one had been published in 2004.
Before turning to Go, the authority had issued a call for expressions of interest but the three bidders who made an offer were rejected as they failed to satisfy set criteria.
After that, the authority stared talks with Go, an MCA spokeswoman told The Times, during which Go started gathering information on costs and logistical needs.
However, the discussions were eventually “suspended” until the authority enquired whether there was someone already supplying the market with such a directory. It eventually went back to Go informing it that, according to its public service obligation, it had to go ahead with printing the phonebook.
In summer MITA registered its interest to print the directory because “regrettably, no other solution was found following talks with service providers.”
“The telephone directory that the Government intends to print will include both fixed line telephone numbers and also mobile phone numbers; the latter is not covered under the service obligation,” the spokeswoman said.
When asked how much it was expected to cost, the spokeswoman said MITA was still studying the possible formats and layouts, considering this is the first time that a directory will have multiple fixed-line operators and mobile numbers.
Asked whether there was a publication deadline, the spokeswoman said a plan was still being worked out. However, the process is not expected to be concluded before mid-2013.
This is because people will need to be given time to validate their contact details with their respective telecommunications providers.
Questions sent to Go on the matter remained unanswered.