Villages still lack fixed-line phone choice

20pc of remote and old homes have no options on networks

About 20 per cent of households in old buildings and remote areas still lack any choice of a fixed-line phone carrier - five years after the market was liberalised.

But new technology to be introduced next year may break the deadlock, according to an industry source.

Office of the Telecommunications Authority figures revealed that last year, 79 per cent of 2.5 million households had a choice of at least two fixed-line carriers, but the percentage was increasing at a diminishing rate.

In 2004 - one year after the market was deregulated - about 60 per cent of households were given at least one alternative. The following year, 71 per cent were given an alternative. In 2006, the figure had risen by 5 percentage points to 76 per cent. Last year, the total rose by only 3 percentage points to 79, with 55 per cent of households able to choose from three operators.

Under its licence conditions, PCCW is obligated to provide a telephone line to every household - regardless of location - at affordable prices. However, the other four fixed-line operators - Hutchison Global Communications, Wharf T&T, New World Telecom and Hong Kong Broadband Network - are able to let commercial considerations determine where they provide services.