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Media and Communications

complain to the Ombudsman if any bureau or department does not comply with the provisions of the code.

Communications Authority

The Communications Authority (CA), an independent statutory body established under the Communications Authority Ordinance, is the unified regulator of Hong Kong's broadcasting and telecommunications industries. The CA regulates the industries according to the Broadcasting Ordinance, Telecommunications Ordinance, Communications Authority Ordinance, Broadcasting (Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance, Trade Descriptions Ordinance and Competition Ordinance. It also enforces the Unsolicited Electronic Messages Ordinance.

The Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA), the CA's executive arm and secretariat, helps the CA administer and enforce these ordinances.

Telecommunications

The government aims to facilitate the development of the telecommunications industry and enhance Hong Kong's position as the telecommunications hub of the region. The telecommunications services market in Hong Kong is fully open to competition. The long- standing pro-market approach has encouraged an abundant supply of quality and state-of-the- art services for consumers and businesses at competitive prices.

Mobile Communications

Four mobile network operators and 24 mobile virtual network operators provide mobile telecommunications services, offering mobile data at downlink speeds of up to 1.1 Gbps. These networks were serving 23.98 million mobile subscriptions as at December, representing a population penetration rate of 286 per cent, one of the world's highest. Mobile data usage reached 69,899 terabytes, a 36 per cent rise over December 2018. On average, each resident used 8,245 megabytes per month in the past 12 months. The WEF's Global Competitive Report 2019 ranked Hong Kong first among 141 economies in terms of the number of mobile-cellular telephone subscriptions per 100 population. To prepare for the advent of the fifth-generation (5G) era, 1,200 MHz of high-band 5G spectrum was assigned administratively in April, while a total of 380 MHz of mid-band 5G spectrum was assigned through auctions in October and November.

Fixed Communications

As at December, there were 27 local fixed carrier licensees providing 86 fixed telephony services per 100 households. Ninety per cent and 79 per cent of households can choose between at least two and three self-built local fixed customer access networks respectively.

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 93.6 per cent. The WEF's Global Competitive Report 2019 ranked Hong Kong third among 141 economies in terms of the number of fibre internet subscriptions per 100 population.

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