Last year, a Malta Communications Authority spokesman went on record (on radio and in various publications) and stated that the MCA was “actively working with all stakeholders” to secure and ensure the publishing of a hard copy, up-to-date telephone directory.

It would be interesting to learn what this seemingly massively complex collaboration entailed and what developments there have been since then and what has caused this massive disservice and inordinate delay in providing such.

Given that landline numbers have fallen drammatically since the last directory was published back in 2004 and the MCA reliably assured me that a directory should be published on a two-year basis, why hasn’t this happened?

In the civilised world and in the majority of EU countries telephone directories are provided on an annual basis to subscribers. Yet we languish unaccountably and unacceptably behind. Why? Answers please from MCA, Go and Melita.