OFTA SAYS HK MARKET IS MOST COMPETITIVE

A study by the Office of the Telecommunications Authority (Ofta) has found Hong Kong to be the most competitive mobile market. The study, which compared telecommunications competition in Australia, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, Britain and the United States, was the first of its kind to be conducted by Ofta. 'The study establishes that Hong Kong is a leading market in terms of effectiveness of competition in the telecommunications market,' Ofta said. Hong Kong also had the highest mobile penetration rate, and the second-highest broadband penetration rate after South Korea, among the seven markets. Savings resulting from competition in the mobile market were estimated at HK$70 billion from 1996 to last year. Savings from IDD call rates from 1999 to 2001 amounted to about HK$31 billion.