The Telecommunications Authority is pleased to announce that the Third Phase of the Auction for the third generation mobile services licensing and the Frequency Band selection process have been completed today (26 September 2001). The results of the Third Phase of the Auction and the Frequency Band allocation exercise are set out below:

 
Amount of bid (Third Phase)
Paired Band (MHz)
Unpaired Band(MHz)
Lower Block
Upper Block
Hutchison 3G HK Limited
HK$2,398,888.88
1964.9 - 1979.7
2154.9 - 2169.7
2019.7 - 2024.7
SmarTone 3G Limited
HK$1,388,888.88
1950.1 - 1964.9
2140.1 - 2154.9
1909.9 - 1914.9
Hong Kong CSL Limited
HK$288,812.12
1935.1 - 1949.9
2125.1 - 2139.9
1904.9 - 1909.9
SUNDAY 3G (Hong Kong) Limited
HK$10,000.01
1920.3 - 1935.1
2110.3 - 2125.1
1914.9 - 1919.9

It is expected that the Grant Stage of the Auction will be completed before the end of 2001 upon which each successful licensee will:

  1. pay the amount of bid in the Third Phase of the Auction to the Authority
  2. provide a Performance Bond to the Authority in respect of the next five years' minimum payments; and
  3. be issued with a new 3G Licence and have its 2G Licence amended with agreed changes.

"I am delighted that the auction stages of the licence allocation process have now been completed successfully. This means that licences can be granted as soon as some time in October. Operators may then start construction of their 3G networks as soon as possible. The open access regime we have created in Hong Kong will mean that it is not only the successful licensees who can provide innovative 3G services. Other operators and providers of content will have the opportunity to provide exciting services over these networks at a fair price. In particular, the regime should encourage capable small and medium enterprises to design and provide creative mobile applications. So Hong Kong is well positioned to be a world centre for 3G innovation," said Mr Anthony Wong, Telecommunications Authority.

NOTES TO EDITORS

The Third Phase of the Hong Kong 3G Auction allocates specific Frequency Bands to the Third Phase Bidders. Each Third Phase Bidder submitted a single sealed bid, expressed as a cash sum payable on licensing.

Wednesday, September 26, 2001