Hutchison Telecom eyes more mobile spectrum to meet demand
Telecoms firm posts solid year and says it is determined to retain or boost mobile spectrum
Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong, which posted solid financial results for last year, plans to marshal its resources to add more mobile spectrum and keep its existing spectrum holdings to meet rising data services requirements.
Chief executive Peter Wong King-fai said yesterday: "If we don't increase spectrum or keep previous spectrum [licensed to the company], it will affect service to our customers."
Hutchison Telecom, SmarTone Telecommunications, CSL and PCCW's HKT have formed a united front to renew their existing 3G spectrum allocations, while competing in the latest government auction of new 4G mobile spectrum. Their respective 3G spectrum licences are due to expire in October 2016.
An option that the government apparently favours is to take a third of each of the four mobile network operators' current 3G spectrum allocation and auction these off. China Mobile, the world's largest wireless network operator, has expressed support for the plan.
The government, led by the Communications Authority, will decide on which way to go this October after the conclusion of its public consultation on April 11.
Wong said: "Over the years, we have used a lot of resources to develop that 3G spectrum. We don't want to see the operators and the government going to court to resolve this issue."