368 Communications, the Media and Information Technology
which OFTA has been working closely with the industry to resolve. In 2010, OFTA and the industry adopted a number of initiatives to tackle issues concerning chargeable mobile content services, mobile bill shock and performance of mobile broadband services. Since July 2011, consumers subscribing to telecommunications services have been given enhanced protection with the implementation of the Industry Code of Practice for Telecommunications Service Contracts.
To ensure a uniform application of fair usage policy (FUP) by fixed and mobile broadband service providers and to enhance customers' understanding on FUP so as to enable them to compare the different offers in the market and to make informed subscription decisions, OFTA issued mandatory guidelines in November 2011 for fixed and mobile broadband services providers to follow when implementing the FUP. During the year, OFTA engaged the industry vigorously to identify measures for resolving disputes between operators and customers. With these initiatives, coupled with consumer education efforts, the number of consumer complaints received by OFTA decreased by 13 per cent from 5 711 in 2010 to 4 950 in 2011.
International Activities
Hong Kong continues to be an active player in international telecommunications forums. In addition to being a member of the Mainland delegation to conferences and meetings organised by the International Telecommunication Union, Hong Kong participates as an independent member at meetings of the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) and the Telecommunications and Information working Group of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC).
In June 2011, Hong Kong hosted the APT Workshop on International Mobile Roaming. About 80 participants representing policy makers, telecommunications regulators and industry players from the Asia-Pacific region attended the workshop and shared their views on international mobile roaming issues.
Broadcasting
Hong Kong is a forerunner in the adoption of advanced broadcasting technologies. The Government's broadcasting policy objectives are to widen programme choice and diversity through competition, to facilitate the introduction of new, innovative broadcasting services and to enhance Hong Kong's position as a regional broadcasting hub.
To achieve these objectives, Hong Kong adopted a facilitating and pro- competition approach to promote the application of various innovative broadcasting technologies, and provided a liberalised and light-handed regulatory environment for new broadcasting services to flourish. This allows Hong Kong to enter into a new era of broadcasting, with broadened programming choice and innovative services available to the viewing and listening public. Hong Kong now has some 700 satellite and pay television channels available in digital format, and is the world leader in deploying Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) technology, with some one million subscribers. There are also 17 licensed satellite television broadcasters providing about 200 channels for the Asia-Pacific region. The two terrestrial television