Hong Kong Government To Consult Public On 3G License Auction Plan

HONG KONG -(Dow Jones)- The Hong Kong government said Wednesday it will consult the public on a plan to auction a new third-generation wireless license.

The government will suggest allowing existing 3G operators to bid for the CDMA2000 standard 3G license in the consultation, said Director-General of Telecommunications Au Man Ho.

Hong Kong now has four 3G operators: SmarTone Telecommunications Holdings; Hutchison Telecommunications International Holdings's Hong Kong unit; CSL New World Mobility (Hong Kong), the Hong Kong mobile phone unit of Australia's Telstra; and PCCW, which provides 3G service through its subsidiary SUNDAY Communication's network.

All the existing 3G operators use Wideband Code Division Multiple Access, or WCDMA, technology which is also used by most European countries.

-By Ernest Kong, Dow Jones Newswires; 852-2802-7002; ernest.kong@dowjones.com

-Edited by Theresa Davidovitz

(END) Dow Jones Newswires "

Posted to the site on 25th October 2006