Hutchison Telecom plans to invest $800 million next year to upgrade its cellular networks and to develop mobile-phone Internet applications.
The company yesterday unveiled a plan which would see it roll out wireless application protocol (WAP) services - a form of mobile access to the Internet - on its mobile-phone networks by the end of next month.
Hutchison Telecom - established in 1983 by Hutchison Whampoa, Hong Kong telecommunications firm Distacom and United States electronics giant Motorola - is now 70 per cent-owned by Hutchison and 30 per cent by Motorola.
The firm - which operates the Orange and Xin Gan Xian cellular networks - said the WAP services would enable customers to access a range of Internet-based information and e-commerce services.
Stephen Ngan, director of wireless sales and marketing, said: 'Hutchison Telecom will invest $800 million next year to further enhance its Orange and Xin Gan Xian network facilities, as well as WAP services.
'This includes developing high-speed data transmission technology, recruiting new network facilities, upgrading existing software and carrying out service application research.' To access WAP services, customers would need to buy new WAP-capable handsets which would be on offer from all the top cellular-phone manufacturers.
'Orange's WAP services are expected to be unveiled in November and for Xin Gan Xian in the first quarter of next year,' Mr Ngan said.