Hong Kong’s Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA) has allocated spectrum in the 2.3GHz band to three telcos, raising a total of HK$470m (US$60.6m).
Two existing operators, China Mobile Hong Kong and Hutchison Telephone, and one new…
Hong Kong’s Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA) has allocated spectrum in the 2.3GHz band to three telcos, raising a total of HK$470m (US$60.6m).
Two existing operators, China Mobile Hong Kong and Hutchison Telephone, and one new entrant, 21 ViaNet, each won 30MHz of radio spectrum.
21 ViaNet and Hutchison each paid HK$150m (US$19.3m) while China Mobile spent HK$170m (US$22m).
Fourth bidder Hong Kong Telecommunications, the mobile unit recently spun off from conglomerate PCCW, missed out on spectrum.
The auction was necessary “to meet market demand”, OFTA stated.
An OFTA spokesperson added: “The acquired spectrum will be assigned under a 15-year unified carrier licence. The licensees will be required to provide a minimum coverage of 50% of the population of Hong Kong as regards to their mobile services, or a minimum coverage of 200 commercial and/or residential buildings as to their fixed services within five years from the grant of the licences.”
