14 in running for licences

FOURTEEN groups submitted bids for a up to six Personal Communications Services (PCS) licences by the March 24 deadline.

They include the four fixed network operators - Hongkong Telecom, New World Telephone, New T & T and Hutchison Telecom which are seen by the industry as having an immediate advantage in the bidding.

Other bidders with an apparent edge are the four licensed mobile phone operators - SmarTone Mobile Communications, Pacific Link Communications, Hutchison and Hongkong Telecom subsidiary CSL.

Bidders for PCS are: Champion Technology and Hughes.

Chevalier (Telepoint) (Chevalier and Australian company Telstra).

Hongkong Telecom.

Honeycomb (Hysan Development Co, TeleDenmark, Unicom-Liantong, Telenor).