ENG-2007 — Page 397

Chapter 17

Communications, the Media and Information Technology

Hong Kong people are among the most informed in the world, due largely to the city's dynamic news media. At last count in 2007, there were close to 700 daily newspapers and periodicals published in Hong Kong. Some 76 per cent of households have broadband connections, the second highest level in Asia. Mobile phones, too, are ubiquitous with a penetration rate of 152 per cent, also one of the world's highest. And, some 1 million households subscribe to Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) services

the highest penetration rate in the world.

Excellent communications have been an essential element in Hong Kong's development as an international business and financial centre. The city has one of the most sophisticated telecommunications markets in the world, and its people are kept well informed by an efficient and vigorous media.

Hong Kong has a fully liberalised and highly competitive telecommunications market. Since the launch of third generation (3G) mobile services in 2004, the take-up rate has grown rapidly. By the end of the year, more than 2 004 000 mobile phone users were enjoying 3G or 3.5G advanced services such as video calls, video streaming/downloading and interactive real-time gaming. The Government has completed the auction of spectrum for the provision of mobile service based on the CDMA 2000 standard, which is one of the major mobile communications standards in the world that is capable of providing high-speed data services. The service will be rolled out in November 2008. Moreover, the Government will allocate radio spectrum for the provision of services based on broadband wireless access (BWA) technologies. through open auction in the fourth quarter of 2008 to promote the use of broadband technologies even further.

Hong Kong has a vibrant broadcasting industry offering a wide range of services. The two terrestrial television broadcasters officially launched digital broadcasting on December 31, 2007. In addition to 13 domestic channels in Chinese and English provided by the two commercial broadcasters free of charge, TV viewers can access some 270 local and overseas television channels with programmes in different languages being provided by three licensed operators on subscription. There are three radio stations, including one run by the Government called Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), broadcasting on 13 channels. RTHK also produces TV programmes of public interest broadcast through the free TV channels. Hong Kong is a regional

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