Hong Kong - Telecommunications Infrastructure

Synopsis

Consistent with its status as one of the leading telecommunications economies in the world, Hong Kong has built itself world-class telecom infrastructure. Digitalised since 1995, the Special Administrative Region has been wired extensively with optical fibre cables, with the vast majority of households covered by this extensive broadband network. The rollout has been characterised by the utilisation of practically every type of technology. Hong Kong is naturally a key regional telecommunications hub and as such is the landing point for a significant number of strategically important submarine cables. Television is a substantial market in Hong Kong, with an estimated customer base of over 2.2 million households (99%). There are over 200 domestic, regional and international TV channels broadcasting in a range of languages, including free-to-air commercial channels, pay TV channels and a variety of FTA satellite channels. This report reviews the infrastructure established in Hong Kong, and developments in digital cable and satellite TV.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. Telecommunications infrastructure
  • 2.1 Overview
  • 2.2 Mainland connection
• 3. Full liberalisation of FTNS market
  • 3.1 Local and STD calls
  • 3.2 International calls
• 4. Submarine cable networks
  • 4.1 Pacnet Global (formerly Asia Netcom/Asia Global Crossing)
  • 4.2 Hutchison Global Telecommunications (Hong Kong)
  • 4.3 C2C Pte Ltd/Pacnet Cable
  • 4.4 PCCW Global
• 5. Satellite networks
  • 5.1 AsiaSat
  • 5.2 APStar
  • 5.3 Asia Broadcast Satellite
• 6. Television
  • 6.1 Overview
  • 6.2 Regulatory issues
    • 6.2.1 History
    • 6.2.2 Regulatory environment
  • 6.3 Technology platforms
    • 6.3.1 Terrestrial transmission
    • 6.3.2 Hybrid Fibre Coax Cable (HFC) and Microwave Multipoint Distribution System (MMDS)
    • 6.3.3 Satellite transmission
    • 6.3.4 Broadband network
  • 6.4 Pay TV
    • 6.4.1 TVB Pay Vision Ltd
  • 6.5 Satellite TV
  • 6.6 Free-To-Air (FTA) broadcasting
    • 6.6.1 Television Broadcasts Ltd
    • 6.6.2 Asia Television Ltd
    • 6.6.3 New Potential FTA Licensees
  • 6.7 Digital broadcasting
    • 6.7.1 Digital Terrestrial Television
    • 6.7.2 Digital Cable Broadcasting
    • 6.7.3 Digital Satellite Broadcasting
    • 6.7.4 Digital Broadcasting over Broadband Network
• 7. Related reports

• Table 1 – Fixed-lines in service and teledensity – 1990 - 2011
• Table 2 – External telephone traffic volume in minutes – 1997 - 2009
• Table 3 – External telecommunications facilities capacity of Hong Kong – 2000 - 2009
• Table 4 – AsiaSat revenue, EBITDA and profit – 2005 - 2008
• Table 5 – AsiaSat satellite utilisation – 2005 - 2009
• Table 6 – AsiaSat sources of revenue by business segment – 2007 - 2008
• Table 7 – APT Sat revenue and profit – 2001 - 2008
• Table 8 – APT Sat satellite utilisation – 2003 - 2009
• Table 9 – APT sources of revenue by business segment – 2007 - 2008
• Table 10 – Broadcasting service statistics – February 2010
• Table 11 – TV household penetration by licence type – December 2009
• Table 12 – TV channels provided by all TV licensees in Hong Kong – 2000 - 2009
• Table 13 – Hong Kong households’ TV coverage by transmission modes – December 2009
• Table 14 – Pay TV subscribers – cable and ADSL – 2001 - 2009

• Exhibit 1 – Fixed Telecommunications Network Services (FTNS) licensees – February 2010
• Exhibit 2 – Major submarine cables with landing points in Hong Kong – 2008
• Exhibit 3 – External FTNS licensees – October 2009
• Exhibit 4 – Satellite-based external FTNS licensees – February 2010
• Exhibit 5 – Overview of TV broadcasting licences – January 2010
• Exhibit 6 – TV services receivable by broadcasting company – October 2009
• Exhibit 7 – Transmission modes employed by TV licensees