The government should consider complaints against operators as part of the pre-qualification process in bidding for future telecommunications licences, a Legislative Council panel heard yesterday.
The government is expected to auction off at least three licences for broadband wireless access (BWA) services early next year, in what Legco members said could be a trial for such arrangements.
The BWA technology, or WiMAX, can provide wireless, fixed and mobile services. The government estimates that BWA services will be rolled out next year.
Legco members suggested the number of complaints against operators over the past few years should be included in the bidders' qualification criteria, in addition to the financial status of interested companies.
'We need to strictly monitor the operators' quality of service,' Albert Chan Wai-yip, a Legco member, told the panel. 'Operators' complaints records should be included as a bidding condition. Licensees should show corporate social responsibility if they are to offer services.'
Marion Lai Chan Chi-kuen, director-general of the Office of the Telecommunications Authority, said the government would study the opinion, although '[it] will initially be concerned with the bidding price, which is market-driven.'
