Hong Kong - Mobile Communications - Market Overview, Statistics and Forecasts

Synopsis

Growth in Hong Kong’s mobile phone market has continued to grow despite having reached saturation point in 2002. Going into 2011 penetration was close to 190%. With a population of over seven million, the market is effectively saturated but has continued to remain competitive through preparedness among the operators to embrace new technology opportunities and be innovative with solution offerings. This report provides statistics and insights into Hong Kong’s dynamic mobile market including the increasing uptake of 3G services, the introduction of LTE and the award of a mobile TV licence to China Mobile Hong Kong. In addition mobile forecasts are included up to 2016 for the total market and specifically for 3G.

Key Developments:

Mobile penetration trends towards 200%; 3G becomes the dominant network technology; LTE launches impact market shares; mobile data usage skyrockets 45% in half a year

Companies covered in this report include:

PCCW; SmarTone; Hutchison Telecom; New World Telecom; CSL; China Mobile HK

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. Mobile communications market
  • 2.1 Overview
  • 2.2 Market status 2011
  • 2.3 Mobile statistics
    • 2.3.1 Mobile subscribers 1984-2012
    • 2.3.2 Mobile prepaid cards 1997-2010
    • 2.3.3 Mobile subscribers by operator
• 3. Regulatory issues
  • 3.1 Mobile number portability (MNP)
  • 3.2 Spectrum licensing
    • 3.2.1 2.5GHz – Broadband wireless access (BWA)
    • 3.2.2 850MHz – CMDA2000
    • 3.2.3 1800MHz – GSM
    • 3.2.4 680MHz – Mobile TV
    • 3.2.5 2.3GHz
• 4. Mobile technologies
  • 4.1 Analogue
  • 4.2 Telepoint CT-2
  • 4.3 GSM/2G
  • 4.4 Personal communications services (PCS)/2G
  • 4.5 High-speed circuit-switched data (HSCSD)
  • 4.6 General packet radio service (GPRS)
  • 4.7 Enhanced data for GSM evolution (EDGE)
  • 4.8 High-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA)
  • 4.9 CDMA
  • 4.10 CDMA2000
  • 4.11 Third Generation (3G) mobile
    • 4.11.1 Licensing
    • 4.11.2 3G launches
    • 4.11.3 3G statistics
  • 4.12 LTE (Long-term evolution)/4G
• 5. Mobile virtual network operators (MVNO)
• 6. Mobile services
  • 6.1 Short message service (SMS)
  • 6.2 Mobile data usage
• 7. Mobile content
  • 7.1 Background
  • 7.2 Mobile phone versus smartphone usage
    • 7.2.1 Who owns a smartphone?
    • 7.2.2 What do they use a smartphone for?
    • 7.2.3 What to look for in your mobile operator
  • 7.3 Smartphones and tablets
  • 7.4 Mobile ratings in Hong Kong
  • 7.5 Mobile TV
    • 7.5.1 Background
    • 7.5.2 Spectrum auction
  • 7.6 Mobile music
  • 7.7 Stock trading
• 8. Forecasts
  • 8.1 Forecast total mobile and 3G subscribers – 2010-2012; 2016
  • 8.2 Forecasting methodology
• 9. Handsets
  • 9.1 iPhone
• 10. Related reports

• Table 1 – Mobile subscribers and annual change – 1984 - 2012
• Table 2 – Prepaid and activated SIM cards – 1997 - 2011
• Table 3 – Mobile operators, technology, subscribers and annual change – March 2009
• Table 4 – Selected mobile operator subscribers and market share – June 2011
• Table 5 – Operator market share by subscribers – 2003 - 2010
• Table 6 – Total mobile numbers ported – 1999 - 2010
• Table 7 – Analogue subscribers and annual change – 1984 - 1997
• Table 8 – GSM 2G subscribers and annual change – 1993 - 2011
• Table 9 – PCS subscribers and annual change – 1997 - 2008
• Table 10 – 2.5G subscribers – 2002 - 2011
• Table 11 – 3G mobile subscribers – 2005 - 2012
• Table 12 – MVNO subscribers – 2005 - 2011
• Table 13 – SMS messages sent and received – 2002 - 2010
• Table 14 – SMS statistics for Christmas Day and New Years Day – 2005 - 2011
• Table 15 – SMS statistics for Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year Day – 2006 - 2011
• Table 16 – Mobile data usage – 2002 – 2011
• Table 17 – Forecast mobile subscribers and penetration higher band forecast – 2010 - 2012; 2016
• Table 18 – Forecast mobile subscribers and penetration lower band forecast – 2010 - 2012; 2016

• Chart 1 – Hong Kong mobile subscriber growth, population penetration – 1995 - 2010
• Chart 2 – Hong Kong mobile operator market share – June 2011
• Chart 3 – Hong Kong technology market share – 1990 - 2010
• Chart 4 – Hong Kong 3G mobile subscribers – 2005 - 2012
• Chart 5 – Quality profile of smartphone users – end 2010

• Exhibit 1 – Mobile virtual network operator licensees – May 2011
• Exhibit 2 – Top 10 activities on mobile phones versus smartphones – 2010