S.L. 399.48 Art. 71Affordable universal service.

(1) The Authority shall ensure that all consumers in

Malta have access at an affordable price, in light of specific national conditions, to an available adequate broadband internet access service and to voice communications services at the quality specified, including the underlying connection, at a fixed location.

(2) The Authority may also ensure the affordability of the services referred to in sub-regulation (1) that are not provided at a fixed location where the Authority considers this to be necessary to ensure the full social and economic participation of consumers in society.

(3) The Authority shall, in the light of national conditions and the minimum bandwidth enjoyed by the majority of consumers in Malta, and taking into account the BEREC report on best practices made in accordance with Article 84(3) of the Electronic Communications Code, define the adequate broadband internet access service for the purposes of sub-regulation (1) with a view to ensuring the bandwidth necessary for social and economic participation in society. The adequate broadband internet access service shall be capable of delivering the bandwidth necessary for supporting at least the minimum set of services set out in the Fifth Schedule.

(4) When a consumer so requests, the connection referred to in sub-regulation (1) and, where applicable, in sub-regulation (2), may be limited to support voice communications services.

(5) The Authority may extend the scope of application of this regulation to end-users that are micro-enterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises, and not-for-profit organisations.