The Office of the Telecommunications Authority ("OFTA") announced that PCCW-HKT Telephone Limited ("PCCW") has launched CDMA2000 mobile service in Hong Kong today ( 20 November 2008 ).

"This is the fifth 3G mobile network in Hong Kong , in addition to the four W-CDMA networks licensed in 2001. At service launch, the new network offers high speed data and voice services conforming to the CDMA2000 standard in the golden bowl areas covering the Kowloon peninsula and the northern part of Hong Kong Island. The service coverage will be further extended to cover places such as the airport, Mass Transit Railway stations, the road tunnels and border control points," the spokesperson of OFTA said.

"CDMA is one of the major mobile communications standards and it has been widely deployed in Canada, the USA, Japan, Korea and the mainland China. With the launch of the CDMA2000 service in Hong Kong, visitors holding CDMA equipment can now enjoy CDMA2000 roaming services. This will strengthen Hong Kong''''s strategic position as a world city as well as the gateway between the mainland China and the world," the spokesperson supplemented.

 Background

The Government promulgated the spectrum policy framework in April 2007. Among the spectrum policy objectives, one objective is to strengthen Hong Kong''''s strategic position as a world city and the gateway between the mainland China and the world. As CDMA2000 is one of the major mobile communications standards adopted in many parts of the world, including the mainland China, the Telecommunications Authority ("TA") decided in April 2007 to make available the spectrum in the 850 MHz band for the provision of CDMA2000 service through an open auction.

In August 2007, OFTA invited applications to bid for the radio spectrum for the provision of CDMA2000 service. A 15-year mobile carrier licence for such a service was to be issued to the successful bidder. The TA announced in November 2007 that PCCW was the successful bidder and it was required to launch the CDMA2000 service on 20 November 2008 .

Source:ibls