Hong Kong-based mobile operators SmarTone and 3 have won 15-year unified carrier licences in an auction held by the Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA).
OFTA said that it had raised HKD1.952bn in the sale, which saw Smartone pay HKD875m for…
Hong Kong-based mobile operators SmarTone and 3 have won 15-year unified carrier licences in an auction held by the Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA).
OFTA said that it had raised HKD1.952bn in the sale, which saw Smartone pay HKD875m for spectrum in the 832.5-837.5 MHz band paired with the 877.5-882.5 MHz for, and 3 Hong Kong pay HKD1.077bn in the 885-890 MHz band paired with 930-935 MHz.
3 Hong Kong was cited stating that the new spectrum would help it meet rising demand for data, and SmarTone was quoted saying that it would use its own new spectrum to increase network capacity and enable higher HSPA+ speeds.
The auction, which kicked off on 28 February, comprised 41 rounds of bidding over four days.
Other participants were China Mobile Hong Kong, CSL, Hong Kong Telecommunications (PCCW), and fibre-based broadband operator Hong Kong Broadband Network (HKBN).
The winners must provide coverage for 50% of the population within five years of the licences being granted. Hong Kong has a penetration rate of 82%.
