Telecommunications
Telecommunications
is a key pillar industry in Hong Kong's economy and business environment. Hong
Kong is ideally positioned to serve as the telecommunications hub of Asia. We
are one of the most open markets in the world with no foreign ownership
restrictions resulting in a large number of leading international carriers,
vendors and equipment manufacturers to set up their regional offices in Hong
Kong.
Service-based demand
The demands of a service-based economy combined with effective regulation have
created a sizeable telecommunications market that takes the lead in Asia in
many areas, providing exceptional value in a highly competitive market. Hong
Kong's demanding consumers encourage product innovation and the market is
often used as a test-bed for new products.
Effective
Regulation
The telecommunications sector is fully liberalised. There are no restrictions on
foreign ownership and the number of operators is determined by the market. The
availability of non-exclusive licences for various telecommunications will
facilitate market entry and further promote investment in both wired and
wireless area. The Government has set up a number of bodies to ensure the
telecommunications market remains the pro-competition and pro-consumer
regulatory framework crucial for a successfully liberalised market. The Office
of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA) regulates and facilitates the
development of the sector.
Funding Support and
Strategic Infrastructures
The US$5 billion Innovation and Technology Fund supports research and
development collaboration projects that contribute to innovation and technology
upgrading in nine focus industries including communication technologies. Hong
Kong Cyberport, the IT flagship supports by a world class telecommunications
infrastructure and a wide range high tech facilitates, together with leading
edge educational and living facilities. Hong Kong Science and Technology Park
offers state-of-the-art infrastructure to facilitate research and development in
four industry sectors including telecommunications. It also operates
technology-based incubation programmes to nurture start-ups.
Closer Economic
Partnership Agreement (CEPA)
The Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), which took effect at the
beginning of 2004, provides Hong Kong with additional and exclusive Mainland
market access benefits. This free trade agreement between Hong Kong and Mainland
China ensures that Hong Kong companies will benefit from the opening-up and
liberalisation of the Mainland market beyond china's commitments to the World
Trade Organisation (WTO). The Mainland has allowed Hong Kong service suppliers
to establish joint venture enterprises in the Mainland to provide the following
five types of value-added telecommunications services : (1) Internet data centre
services (2) Store and forward services (3) Call centre services (4) Internet
access services (5) Content services. Hong Kong service suppliers' share of
these ownerships in these joint ventures cannot exceed 50% and there is no
geographic limitation.
Gateway to
China
China's 1.3 billion population and rapid economic development make it the
fastest growing major telecommunications market in the world. There is huge room
for growth as the mobile user penetration rate is only about 28% of the
population as of June 2005, but is growing at a dramatic rate.
Being part of the Greater Pearl River Delta region, Hong Kong is a gateway to
China where rapid economic development makes it the fastest growing
telecommunications market in the world.
More...
Office
of Telecommunication Authority (OFTA)
Hong
Kong Wireless Development Centre
Hong
Kong Applied Science and Research Institute
Hong
Kong Science and Technology Park
Hong
Kong Cyberport
Hong
Kong Innovation and Technology Commission
ITU
Telecom World 2006
3G
World Congress 2006
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