Hong Kong awards 5G licences in 3.5 GHz band

The regulator of Hong Kong OFCA has successfully auctioned off a total of 200 MHz of spectrum in the 3.5 GHz to four mobile network operators for a total of HKD 1.006 billion.

Four bidders: China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited (CMHK), Hong Kong Telecommunications (HKT) Limited (HKT), Hutchison Telephone Company Limited (HTCL) and SmarTone Mobile Communications Limited (SmarTone) took part in the 3.5 GHz band auction. The results of the auction are listed in the table below:

The provisional successful bidders are required to pay the spectrum utilization fees as specified in the table above and to submit performance bonds to guarantee compliance with the network and service roll out requirement by 14th January 2020. Further, they are required to collectively make contributions to a fund for a subsidy scheme to support the upgrade of existing Satellite Master Antenna Television systems by 25th November 2019. The assignment of the spectrum will take effect on 1st April 2020 and be valid for a period of 15 years.

Frequency block Frequency range Provisional successful bidder Spectrum utilisation fee (HKD million)
A1 – A6 3400 – 3460 MHz CMHK 300
A7 – A11 3460 – 3510 MHz HKT  252
A12 – A16 3510 – 3560 MHz SmarTone  252
A17 – A20 3560 – 3600 MHz HTCL  202

The provisional successful bidders are required to pay the spectrum utilization fees as specified in the table above and to submit performance bonds to guarantee compliance with the network and service roll out requirement by 14th January 2020. Further, they are required to collectively make contributions to a fund for a subsidy scheme to support the upgrade of existing Satellite Master Antenna Television systems by 25th November 2019. The assignment of the spectrum will take effect on 1st April 2020 and be valid for a period of 15 years.

Photo Copyright: Adobe Stock | kasto

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