ENG-1997 — Page 412

COMMUNICATIONS AND THE MEDIA

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Public Radio Paging Service

With the increasing popularity of cellular phones, the number of paging customers varied between 1.1 and one million in the year, the first sign of level-off with a slight dip since the service was introduced in the 1970s. At the end of 1997, 31 licensees provided public radio paging services to one million customers (or about one in six of the population).

Paging operators adopted high speed paging technology and introduced more value-added services, such as e-mail paging, to improve their appeal.

International Value Added Network Service (IVANS)

IVANS operators in Hong Kong provide a wide range of value-added services such as electronic mailbox, store-and-forward facsimile and electronic data interchange (EDI) over international private leased circuits (IPLCs) between Hong Kong and other places. Voice communications are restricted to value-added voice services. At the end of 1997, there were 55 IVANS operators of whom 11 operators also provide Internet access service. Following a TA statement in April 1996 that the operation of Virtual Private Network (VPN) services was outside the exclusivities of HKTI's licence by the end of 1997, 17 licences for VPN services were issued.

Self Provision

The Self-Provided External Telecommunication System (SPETS) licence is issued to a company or an organisation for the establishment of its own external circuits for internal communications. At the end of 1997, 50 SPETS licences were in force.

In January 1997, the Self-Provided External Telecommunication System (Short Term) licence was introduced to facilitate the short-term use of telecommunications equipment, such as satellite news-gathering equipment, for international communication particularly during the period of the change of sovereignty. Thirty- two licences were issued in 1997.

Satellite Communications

The United Kingdom Outer Space Act 1986 (Hong Kong) Order 1990 was localised to become the Outer Space Ordinance. It provides the licensing framework for launching satellites and operating space objects in outer space.

Two companies incorporated in Hong Kong have been granted licences under the Outer Space Ordinance. APT Satellite Company Limited (APT) successfully launched its third satellite, APSTAR-IIR, in October.

Information Infrastructure Advisory Committee (IIAC)

The IIAC was established in March 1997 under OFTA to advise on co-ordination for the orderly development of Hong Kong's information infrastructure. Three task forces and nine working groups were set up under the IIAC to tackle individual issues on a more detailed and technical level. The IIAC plans to publish its first report in March 1998.

International Activities

Hong Kong continued to participate in the activities of international and regional telecommunications organisations. During 1997, Hong Kong was represented in