Hong Kong Telecom Regulator Seeks Views On Unified License

HONG KONG -(Dow Jones)- Hong Kong's telecommunications regulator is seeking the public's view on the introduction of a unified license for fixed and mobile telecom services, as new technologies point toward convergence of the two types of services.

The Office of the Telecommunications Authority said in a consultation paper issued Wednesday that under a proposed unified carrier licensing framework, a licensee can provide fixed telecom services, mobile services or both, depending on the scope of services applied for.

Once the new converged licensing system is in place, no fixed carrier license or mobile carrier license will be issued and the existing licenses won't be renewed, though existing licenses will remain valid until they expire. Existing licensees will have the option of converting their licenses to unified licenses.

"The proposed unified licensing and regulatory framework will pave the way for converged services and should be conducive to technological advancement and market development of innovative services," an OFTA spokesperson said.

-By Julie Wang, Dow Jones Newswires; (852) 2802-7002; julie.wang@dowjones.com

-Edited by Andrew Bullard

(END) Dow Jones Newswires"

Posted to the site on 21st September 2005