Hong Kong - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Last updated: 28 Sep 2020 Update History

Report Pages: 135

Analyst: Sebastien De Rosbo

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Summary
Table Of Contents

Hong Kong government helps subsidize 5G projects

Hong Kong’s small telecom market is among the most highly developed globally. The territory’s emphasis on new technologies has seen it provide widescale fibre-based broadband infrastructure, while 5G services have been available since April 2020. Intense competition within a small market has led to consolidation, with the number of MNOs reduced to four, though there is room in the market for several MVNOs as well.

The high mobile subscriber penetration rate reflects the number of tourists visiting Hong Kong, both from overseas and from mainland China, as also the popularity among local residents to have more than one mobile device ad SIM card. Subscriber growth is expected to be steady but relatively low through to 2025, with high penetration offering limits to stronger growth.

Broadband investment was initially focused on DSL and HFC platforms although operators have switched their focus to fibre. This migration has been rendered feasible in Hong Kong given the advantages of the geographically compact territory, the low cost of fibre network deployment, and the relative ease of covering high-density premises.

Demand for broadband is driven by the consumption of bandwidth-intensive online services such as OTT video, music and games; the proliferation of internet connected devices, and the growing use of corporate broadband services including cloud services and software.

Underpinned by widely accessible, fast and affordable fixed and mobile broadband infrastructure, Hong Kong has created a sophisticated digital economy to encourage social inclusion and economic development. Various technologies have been utilised to improve the quality, accessibility and affordability of commerce, government services, healthcare, education and utilities.

International internet connectivity continues to grow, driven by Hong Kong’s status as an international financial hub.

Supporting the delivery of digital economy services is increasing affordability and sophistication of end user devices and IOT connected sensors as well as continual investment in network infrastructure to connect end-user devices as well as integration of new mobile related technologies designed to improve wireless broadband capacity and service quality.

BuddeComm notes that the outbreak of the Coronavirus in 2020 is having a significant impact on production and supply chains globally. During the coming year the telecoms sector to various degrees is likely to experience a downturn in mobile device production, while it may also be difficult for network operators to manage workflows when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure. Overall progress towards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some countries.

On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth.

Although it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts of the crisis as it develops, these have been acknowledged in the industry forecasts contained in this report.

The report also covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services. This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions.

Key Developments

Regulator approves first batch of subsidies 5G schemes;
HKT begins deploying AirPON solution to remote villages;
Consultation launched on refarming 2.5GHz spectrum for 5G use;
Us prevents lighting Hong Kong branch line to the Pacific Light cable network;
SmarTone launches 5G services;
Regulator considers auctioning an additional 80MHz of spectrum for 5G;
Government sets subsidy scheme to encourage 5G projects;
Report update includes the regulator’s market data to April 2020, telcos’ operating data to Q1 2020, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of COVID-19 on the telecoms sector, recent market developments.

Key companies mentioned in this report:

Hong Kong Telecom (HKT), Hutchison Telecom Hong Kong Holdings (Hutchison 3), SmarTone, Vodafone Enterprise Global, China Mobile HK, CITIC Telecom, CSL; Hong Kong Broadband Network (HKBN); i-Cable, HGC Global Communications.

Key statistics
Regional Asian Market Comparison
COVID-19 and its impact on the telecom sector

Economic considerations and responses
Mobile devices
Subscribers
Infrastructure

Telecommunications market

Market overview and analysis

Regulatory environment

Regulatory authority
Fixed-line developments

Fibre Infrastructure to Villages
Telecom Sector Liberalisation
Universal Service Obligation (USO)
Digital 21 IT Strategy
FttP/FttB building registration scheme
Number Portability (NP)

Mobile network developments

Spectrum
Mobile Number Portability (MNP)

Mobile market

Mobile statistics
Mobile infrastructure

5G
4G
3G
2G
Mobile voice

Mobile broadband
Major mobile operators

Hong Kong Telecom (HKT)
Hutchison Telekom (Hutchison 3)
SmarTone
China Mobile Hong Kong
Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO)

Fixed-line broadband market

Market overview and analysis
Fixed broadband statistics
Fixed broadband service providers
Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) networks
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks
Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks

Hong Kong Broadband Network (HKBN)
Hong Kong Telecom (HKT)
i-Cable

Other fixed broadband services

Wi-Fi

Digital economy

E-Government

Fixed network operators

Introduction
Hong Kong Telecom (HKT)
HKBN
Hutchison Telecom Hong Kong Holdings (HTHKH)
HGC Global Communications
i-Cable

Telecommunications infrastructure

Overview of the national telecom network
International infrastructure

Submarine cable networks
Satellite

Data centres

Overview

Smart infrastructure

IoT
Smart Grids
Smart Cities

Appendix – Historic data
Glossary of abbreviations
Related reports

List of Tables

Table 2 – Development of telecom market revenue and investment – 2010 – 2019
Table 3 – Change in the number of fixed numbers ported – 2010 – 2020
Table 4 – Change in the number of mobile numbers ported – 2010 - 2020
Table 5 – Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2010 – 2025
Table 6 – Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2010 - 2025
Table 7 – Growth in the number of HKT’s mobile subscribers by type – 2010 – 2019
Table 8 – Development of HKT’s mobile financial data - (US$ million) – 2012 – 2019
Table 9 – Development of HKT’s financial data (US$ million) – 2016 – 2019
Table 10 – Development of HKT’s mobile financial data (HK$ million) – 2012 – 2019
Table 11 – Change in the number of 3 Hutchison’s mobile subscribers – 2009 – 2019
Table 12 – Development of Hutchison 3’s financial data – 2015 - 2019
Table 13 – Development of Hutchison 3’s revenue by type – 2015 - 2019
Table 14 – Development of Hutchison 3’s postpaid ARPU, AMPU and churn – 2010 – 2019
Table 15 – Development of SmarTone’s financial data – 2009 – 2020
Table 16 – Change in SmarTone’s mobile ARPU – 2009 – 2019
Table 17 – Growth in the number of SmarTone’s mobile subscribers – 2009 – 2019
Table 18 – SmarTone spectrum holdings
Table 19 – Growth in the number of HKBN’s mobile subscribers – 2017 – 2020
Table 20 – Development of HKBN’s mobile ARPU – 2017 – 2020
Table 21 – Top 15 countries in Asia by average broadband speed – 2019
Table 22 – Top 15 countries in Asia by average fixed broadband cost – 2019
Table 23 – Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration – 2010 – 2025
Table 24 – Growth in the number of residential/business broadband subscribers – 2010 – 2020
Table 25 – Increase in fixed broadband traffic – 2010 – 2020
Table 26 – FTTH and FTTB household penetration rate – 2018 - 2019
Table 27 – Development of HKBN’s financial data – 2016 – 2020
Table 28 – Growth in the number of HKBN’s broadband subscribers – 2010 – 2020
Table 29 – Development of HKBN’s fixed broadband ARPU – 2014 – 2020
Table 30 – Growth in the number of HKT’s fibre broadband subscribers – 2011 – 2019
Table 31 – Growth in the number of HKT’s fixed broadband subscribers – 2010 – 2019
Table 32 – Growth in the number of public Wi-Fi access points and Wi-Fi zones – 2010 – 2019
Table 33 – Growth in the number of HKBN’s networked premises – 2014 – 2020
Table 34 – Change in the number of i-Cable’s subscribers by service – 2010 – 2019
Table 35 – Decline in the number of fixed lines and penetration – 2010 – 2025
Table 36 – Increase in international bandwidth – 2010 – 2018
Table 37 – Growth in equipped and activated internet bandwidth capacity – 2010 – 2019
Table 38 – Growth in equipped and activated satellite bandwidth capacity – 2010 – 2019
Table 39 – Historic - Fixed numbers ported – 2005 – 2009
Table 40 – Historic - Total mobile numbers ported – 1999 – 2009
Table 41 – Historic - Mobile subscribers, annual change and penetration – 1984 – 2009
Table 42 – Historic - HKT prepaid and postpaid subscribers – 2005 – 2008
Table 43 – Historic - 3 Hutchison mobile subscribers – 1998 – 2009
Table 44 – Historic – 3 Hutchison - mobile subscribers 2G and 3G postpaid and total – 2008 – 2014
Table 45 – Historic - China Mobile Hong Kong – subscribers – 2007 – 2009
Table 46 – Historic - MVNO subscribers – 2007 – 2015
Table 47 – Historic - Fixed broadband subscribers and penetration – 2007 – 2009
Table 48 – Historic - Fixed broadband residential / business internet subscribers – 2000 – 2009
Table 49 – Historic - Residential broadband subscriptions by technology platform – 2010 – 2014
Table 50 – Historic - Residential broadband ARPU – 2010 – 2013
Table 51 – Historic - HKT broadband subscribers – 2007 – 2009
Table 52 – Historic - Wi-Fi access points and Wi-Fi zones – 2007 – 2009
Table 53 – Historic - i-Cable subscribers per service – 2002 – 2009
Table 54 – Historic - Fixed lines in service and penetration – 2007 – 2009
Table 55 – Historic - Fixed-line telephony subscribers – 2000 – 2015

List of Charts

Chart 4 – Development of telecom market revenue and investment – 2010 – 2019
Chart 5 – Change in the number of fixed numbers ported – 2010 – 2020
Chart 6 – Change in the number of mobile numbers ported – 2010 - 2020
Chart 7 – Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2010 – 2025
Chart 8 – Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2010 - 2025
Chart 9 – Growth in the number of HKT’s mobile subscribers by type – 2010 – 2019
Chart 10 – Development of HKT’s mobile financial data - (US$ million) – 2012 – 2019
Chart 11 – Development of HKT’s financial data (US$ million) – 2016 – 2019
Chart 12 – Development of HKT’s mobile financial data (HK$ million) – 2012 – 2019
Chart 13 – Change in the number of 3 Hutchison’s mobile subscribers – 2009 – 2019
Chart 14 – Development of Hutchison 3’s financial data – 2015 - 2019
Chart 15 – Development of Hutchison 3’s revenue by type – 2015 - 2019
Chart 16 – Development of Hutchison 3’s postpaid ARPU, AMPU and churn – 2010 – 2019
Chart 17 – Development of SmarTone’s financial data – 2009 – 2020
Chart 18 – Change in SmarTone’s mobile ARPU – 2009 – 2019
Chart 19 – Growth in the number of SmarTone’s mobile subscribers – 2009 – 2019
Chart 20 – Growth in the number of HKBN’s mobile subscribers – 2017 – 2020
Chart 21 – Development of HKBN’s mobile ARPU – 2017 – 2020
Chart 22 – Top 15 countries in Asia by average broadband speed – 2019
Chart 23 – Top 15 countries in Asia by average fixed broadband cost – 2019
Chart 24 – Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration – 2010 – 2025
Chart 25 – Growth in the number of fixed broadband residential / business internet subscribers – 2010 – 2020
Chart 26 – Increase in fixed broadband traffic – 2010 – 2020
Chart 27 – Development of HKBN’s financial data – 2016 – 2020
Chart 28 – Growth in the number of HKBN’s broadband subscribers – 2010 – 2020
Chart 29 – Development of HKBN’s fixed broadband ARPU – 2014 – 2020
Chart 30 – Development of HKBN’s fixed broadband ARPU – 2011 – 2019
Chart 31 – Growth in the number of HKT’s fixed broadband subscribers (thousand) – 2010 – 2019
Chart 32 – Growth in the number of public Wi-Fi access points and Wi-Fi zones – 2007 – 2019
Chart 33 – Change in the number of i-Cable’s subscribers by service – 2010 – 2019
Chart 34 – Decline in the number of fixed lines and penetration – 2010 – 2025
Chart 35 – Increase in international bandwidth – 2010 – 2018
Chart 36 – Growth in equipped and activated internet bandwidth capacity – 2010 – 2019
Chart 37 – Growth in equipped and activated satellite bandwidth capacity – 2010 – 2019

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1 – Key Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 2 – Northern Asia - Key Characteristics of Telecoms Markets by Country
Exhibit 3 – 2.5GHz auction results – 2009
Exhibit 4 – 2.3GHz auction results – 2011
Exhibit 5 – 3.3GHz auction results - 2019
Exhibit 6 – 4.9GHz auction results - 2019
Exhibit 7 – 3.5GHz auction results - 2019
Exhibit 8 – HTHKH’s frequency allocations
Exhibit 9 – Fixed carrier licensees
Exhibit 10 – Major submarine cables with landing points in Hong Kong

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Hong Kong - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Purchase this Report

USD 1,390.00

Hong Kong government helps subsidize 5G projects

Key Developments

Key companies mentioned in this report:

Key statistics

Regional Asian Market Comparison

COVID-19 and its impact on the telecom sector

Telecommunications market

Regulatory environment

Mobile market

Fixed-line broadband market

Digital economy

Fixed network operators

Telecommunications infrastructure

Appendix – Historic data

Glossary of abbreviations

Related reports

Purchase this Report

USD 1,390.00

Share this Report

Purchase with Confidence

Research Methodology

Sample Reports

Hot Topics

News & Views