ENG-2009 — Page 422

350 | Communications, the Media and Information Technology

operators roll out the broadband wireless access services (BWA) in the 2.5/2.6 GHz band.

Broadband Wireless Access Services

Hong Kong is at the worldwide forefront in provision of new technologies and innovative services. To cope with the increasing public demand for mobile multimedia services and to meet the challenges of the information society, the TA held an auction of radio spectrum in the 2.3 GHz and 2.5/2.6 GHz bands in January 2009. Three bidders successfully bid for a total of 90 MHz in the 2.5/2.6 GHz band at a spectrum utilisation fee of more than HK$1.5 billion. With the spectrum, the bidders will be able to provide mobile broadband multimedia services based on BWA technologies, which are next generation wireless communications technologies capable of providing vastly improved high-speed data services.

Broadband Internet Access Services

The local broadband service market continues to grow. According to reports issued by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Hong Kong ranked second in Asia in 2008 in terms of broadband population penetration. By December 2009, the number of wireline-based broadband internet access accounts had increased to over two million. This represents a household penetration rate of 81.4 per cent.

Local operators have been rolling out broadband facilities providing high bandwidth services to customers. According to a recent report of the Fibre-to-the- Home Councils of the Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America, Hong Kong is a world leader in the coverage of fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) or fibre-to-the-building (FTTB) networks with a household penetration of over 33 per cent. At year-end, there were three fixed carriers offering FTTH services with data transmission speed of up to 1 000 megabits per second (Mbps). Services are offered at affordable rates as low as HK$99 (i.e. less than US$13) per month for unlimited usage of broadband internet service at 100Mbps.

broadband services,

Other than the traditional wireline-based telecommunications operators continued to rollout out wireless local area networks in 2009. By December 2009, 25 class licensees and five fixed carrier licensees were authorised to provide public Wi-Fi services. With the installation of over 8 800 Wi-Fi hot spots at around 4 900 locations in the territory by both the Government and the private sector, Hong Kong is at the forefront in the provision of public Wi-Fi service.

Local Fixed Telecommunications Network Services

The local fixed market has been fully liberalised since January 1, 2003. Under the full liberalisation policy, there is no preset limit on the number of licences issued or any deadline for submission of applications for licences. By year-end, there were 11 wireline-based fixed network licensees and one local wireless-based fixed network licensee.

With the efforts of local fixed telecommunications operators to roll out self-built customer access networks, consumers are able to enjoy a greater choice of operators