Hong Kong’s mobile networks call for more spectrum as they prepare for 5G introduction

Hong Kong mobile operators have called for the government to release more mobile spectrum and even overhaul the current spectrum management plan as operators prepare for the roll-out of 5G technology.

On Wednesday, operators HKT and SmarTone urged the government to provide a clear road map for additional spectrum, amid the imminent roll-out of 5G in 2020 and a growing demand for mobile data by consumers.

The two operators, as well as Hutchison Telecom’s 3 Hong Kong, have submitted their views to the Communications Authority in response to its second consultation paper proposing methods for setting up the spectrum utilisation fee in Hong Kong.

“There are fundamental flaws in how the government manages spectrum, they are getting it so wrong,” Alex Arena, group managing director of HKT, told reporters on Wednesday, adding that support for 5G technology such as the internet of things and smart city applications will require a lot more spectrum than operators have at present.

According to HKT, the proposed price for 1,800 megahertz (MHZ) right-of-first-refusal spectrum – spectrum that is allocated to operators – could be as high as HK$67 million per MHz.

He described as “shameful” the government’s decision to not release any new mobile spectrum until 2019, especially since countries such as China plan to increase spectrum by 38 per cent by 2019 to 722 MHz from 522 MHz in 2016. Hong Kong currently has 582 MHz of spectrum.