Advanced Telecommunications Systems
Overview | The Media | Satellite and Optic-Fibre Network
The telecommunications industry provides vital support to the future well-being of the Hong Kong economy which is more dependent on services and thus relies more and more on modern, good quality, efficient telecommunications.At present, the telecommunication industry accounts for about 2% of Hong Kong's total Gross Domestic Product.
Hong Kongís local public switched telephone network has been fully digitalised since 1993. Hong Kong has one of the highest telephone densities in the world with an estimated four million telephones served by 3.1 million exchange lines, meaning there is more than one telephone line for every two people.
Four companies - the Hong Kong Telephone Company, the Hutchison Communications Limited, New T and T Hong Kong Limited and New World Telephone Company - are allowed to provide data and facsimile service as well as voice telephony in Hong Kong.
The provision of public international telecommunications services, including international telephone, telex and telegram services and leased circuits for data and facsimile traffic is an exclusive right enjoyed by the Hong Kong Telecom International Limited until year 2006.
There are four public mobile radio telephone service providers in Hong Kong operating seven systems - three digital and four analogue, serving a total of some 663,000 customers.
Hong Kong also has one of the highest penetration rates of public radio-paging service in the world. There are about 38 licensed operators serving some 1.34 million customers representing approximately one pager per 4.6 people.
The Office of the Telecommunications Authority, which is responsible for the regulation of the telecommunications in Hong Kong, is considering providing mobile services in the higher frequency bands of 1.7-1.9 Ghz. It plans to issue up to six personal communications services licences and up to four cordless access services licence.
Hong Kong is also experimenting interactive multimedia applications, which provide users with services such as Video-on-Demand, home banking, home shopping etc.
The Better Hong Kong Foundation.