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Media and Communications
Mobile Communications
Four mobile network operators provide second generation (2G), third generation (3G) and fourth generation (4G) services in the city. As at December 2016, there were 17.23 million mobile subscribers, representing a population penetration rate of 234 per cent, one of the highest in the world. Among them, 15.58 million were users of 3G or 4G services. In December 2016, mobile data usage reached 23,389 terabytes, a 17 per cent rise over December 2015. On average, each mobile data user used 1,434 megabytes per month in 2016. Mobile data services. are available at downlink speeds of up to 450 Mbps. The World Economic Forum's Global Information Technology Report 2016 ranked Hong Kong first among 139 economies in mobile phone penetration rate and mobile network coverage.
Fixed Communications
There is no preset limit on the number of licences that can be issued for fixed communications services, nor any deadline for the submission of applications. By the end of 2016, there were 25 local fixed telephone network licensees, providing 94 phone fixed-line or internet phone services per 100 households, one of the highest penetration rates in the world. It is the government's policy to promote facility-based competition in the local fixed services market. As a result, 87 per cent and 79 per cent of households could choose between at least two and three self-built local fixed customer access networks respectively as at March 2016.
Fixed Broadband
Hong Kong has one of the world's most advanced fixed broadband network infrastructures and a high household fixed broadband penetration rate of 93.1 per cent. According to internet content delivery provider Akamai's State of the Internet 4th Quarter, 2016 Report, Hong Kong has the world's fourth fastest broadband, in terms of average connection speed.
The city is ranked fifth globally in deploying an optical fibre access network, according to information published in February 2016 by the Fibre to the Home Council Europe.
Hong Kong's fixed broadband services are competitively priced and very affordable, with a monthly rate as low as around $159, or US$20 for broadband internet access service at speeds of up to 1Gbps. The city is also at the forefront in providing public Wi-Fi service, with more than 44,100 Wi-Fi hot spots in about 10,200 areas by the year end.
External Telecommunications
The external telecommunications facilities market in Hong Kong is fully liberalised and, by December 2016, 42 licensees were authorised to provide cable-based and/or non-cable-based external telecommunications facilities. Hong Kong has eight submarine cable landing stations and is connected to 10 regional and trans-Pacific submarine cable systems. It is also connected to the Mainland via 20 overland cables. The total equipped capacity of the external telecommunications facilities in December exceeded 45,073Gbps.
Satellite Communications
Two Hong Kong companies, APT Satellite Company Limited and Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited, are licensed to operate and provide satellite
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