SEVEN Hongkong and overseas consortiums have applied to the Government for fixed-line telecommunications licences, giving the right to compete with Hongkong Telecommunications for telephone services.
Successful applicants are expected to invest more than $6 billion over the next 10 years.
Companies which have confirmed applications include Wharf Telecom, part of the Wharf group; New World Telephone, a 51-49 per cent venture between New World Development and Infa Telecom Asia; the Australian and Overseas Telecommunications Corp; Pacific Link Communications; and Champion Technology Holdings, a Hongkong-listed telecommunications firm.
Hutchison Telecommunications is also believed to have lodged an application, although this could not be confirmed yesterday.
Singapore Telecom is another overseas group which has been seeking a fixed-line network licence.
Sources said Guangdong's post administration had so far refrained from bidding for the second network, awaiting approval from Beijing in the wake of the political row.