DHL International, the global international express and logistics leader, has been granted a 10-year licence by the Malta Communications Authority to provide ‘universal postal services’ in Malta, including a basic counter service.
In an announcement last month, the MCA said “the granting of this licence offers users of postal services in Malta more options in terms of quality and price”.
DHL is a Deutsche Post DHL brand.
“The licence which has been granted to DHL International authorises it to provide services which are not reserved for MaltaPost plc, but which are within the Universal Postal Service Area,” an MCA spokesperson told The Times Business.
“Until December 31, 2012, certain postal services are ‘reserved’ to Maltapost plc and are not open to competition. The reserved area is constituted of items which weigh less than 50 grams and the price of which is less than 2.5 times the ‘local stamp’ tariff of €0.19. This reserved area will be abolished by December 31, 2012, in accordance with Directive 2008/6/EC.”
According to the spokesperson, universal services include the clearance, sorting, transport and distribution of postal articles up to two kilos and of postal parcels up to 20 kilos; services for registered articles; services for insured articles within Malta and from Malta to abroad and vice versa; and a basic counter service throughout the island.
“Services falling within the ‘Universal Service Area’ must be provided by the universal service provider, MaltaPost plc, but may also be provided, if so authorised, by other postal service providers, subject to the limitation of the reserved area,” the spokesperson added.
“The grant of this licence to DHL International will enable it to increase the choice available for Maltese consumers in the non-reserved area of the universal service subject to this limitation.”
DHL International applied for the licence of its own accord. Under the Postal Services Act, any organisation may apply at any time to be awarded such licensing.
The MCA said that, to date, apart from MaltaPost, two individual licences have been awarded for the operation of postal services which are not reserved but which fall within the scope of the universal services; 16 enterprises are providing courier services under the terms of a general authorisation.
Founded in San Francisco in 1969, DHL boasts an international network of more than 220 countries and territories and a staff headcount of 300,000. The group generated revenues topping €46 billion last year.