FEATURED COMPANIES
- China Mobile HK
- CITIC Telecom
- CSL
- HGC Global Communications
- Hong Kong Telecom (HKT)
- i-Cable
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.
The publisher 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;
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.
FEATURED COMPANIES
- China Mobile HK
- CITIC Telecom
- CSL
- HGC Global Communications
- Hong Kong Telecom (HKT)
- i-Cable
1 Key statistics
2 Regional Asian Market Comparison
3 COVID-19 and its impact on the telecom sector
3.1 Economic considerations and responses
3.2 Mobile devices
3.3 Subscribers
3.4 Infrastructure
4 Telecommunications market
4.1 Market overview and analysis
5 Regulatory environment
5.1 Regulatory authority
5.2 Fixed-line developments
5.3 Mobile network developments
6 Mobile market
6.1 Mobile statistics
6.2 Mobile infrastructure
6.3 Mobile broadband
6.4 Major mobile operators
7 Fixed-line broadband market
7.1 Market overview and analysis
7.2 Fixed broadband statistics
7.3 Fixed broadband service providers
7.4 Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) networks
7.5 Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks
7.6 Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks
7.7 Other fixed broadband services
8 Digital economy
8.1 E-Government
9 Fixed network operators
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Hong Kong Telecom (HKT)
9.3 HKBN
9.4 Hutchison Telecom Hong Kong Holdings (HTHKH)
9.5 HGC Global Communications
9.6 i-Cable
10 Telecommunications infrastructure
10.1 Overview of the national telecom network
10.2 International infrastructure
10.3 Data centres
10.4 Smart infrastructure
11 Appendix Historic data
12 Glossary of abbreviations
13 Related reports
List of Tables
Table 1 Development of telecom market revenue and investment 2010 2019
Table 2 Change in the number of fixed numbers ported 2010 2020
Table 3 Change in the number of mobile numbers ported 2010 - 2020
Table 4 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2010 2025
Table 5 Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2010 - 2025
Table 6 Growth in the number of HKT's mobile subscribers by type 2010 2019
Table 7 Development of HKT's mobile financial data - (US$ million) 2012 2019
Table 8 Development of HKT's financial data (US$ million) 2016 2019
Table 9 Development of HKT's mobile financial data (HK$ million) 2012 2019
Table 10 Change in the number of 3 Hutchison's mobile subscribers 2009 2019
Table 11 Development of Hutchison 3's financial data 2015 - 2019
Table 12 Development of Hutchison 3's revenue by type 2015 - 2019
Table 13 Development of Hutchison 3's postpaid ARPU, AMPU and churn 2010 2019
Table 14 Development of SmarTone's financial data 2009 2020
Table 15 Change in SmarTone's mobile ARPU 2009 2019
Table 16 Growth in the number of SmarTone's mobile subscribers 2009 2019
Table 17 SmarTone spectrum holdings
Table 18 Growth in the number of HKBN's mobile subscribers 2017 2020
Table 19 Development of HKBN's mobile ARPU 2017 2020
Table 20 Top 15 countries in Asia by average broadband speed 2019
Table 21 Top 15 countries in Asia by average fixed broadband cost 2019
Table 22 Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2010 2025
Table 23 Growth in the number of residential/business broadband subscribers 2010 2020
Table 24 Increase in fixed broadband traffic 2010 2020
Table 25 FTTH and FTTB household penetration rate 2018 - 2019
Table 26 Development of HKBN's financial data 2016 2020
Table 27 Growth in the number of HKBN's broadband subscribers 2010 2020
Table 28 Development of HKBN's fixed broadband ARPU 2014 2020
Table 29 Growth in the number of HKT's fibre broadband subscribers 2011 2019
Table 30 Growth in the number of HKT's fixed broadband subscribers 2010 2019
Table 31 Growth in the number of public Wi-Fi access points and Wi-Fi zones 2010 2019
Table 32 Growth in the number of HKBN's networked premises 2014 2020
Table 33 Change in the number of i-Cable's subscribers by service 2010 2019
Table 34 Decline in the number of fixed lines and penetration 2010 2025
Table 35 Increase in international bandwidth 2010 2018
Table 36 Growth in equipped and activated internet bandwidth capacity 2010 2019
Table 37 Growth in equipped and activated satellite bandwidth capacity 2010 2019
Table 38 Historic - Fixed numbers ported 2005 2009
Table 39 Historic - Total mobile numbers ported 1999 2009
Table 40 Historic - Mobile subscribers, annual change and penetration 1984 2009
Table 41 Historic - HKT prepaid and postpaid subscribers 2005 2008
Table 42 Historic - 3 Hutchison mobile subscribers 1998 2009
Table 43 Historic 3 Hutchison - mobile subscribers 2G and 3G postpaid and total 2008 2014
Table 44 Historic - China Mobile Hong Kong subscribers 2007 2009
Table 45 Historic - MVNO subscribers 2007 2015
Table 46 Historic - Fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2007 2009
Table 47 Historic - Fixed broadband residential / business internet subscribers 2000 2009
Table 48 Historic - Residential broadband subscriptions by technology platform 2010 2014
Table 49 Historic - Residential broadband ARPU 2010 2013
Table 50 Historic - HKT broadband subscribers 2007 2009
Table 51 Historic - Wi-Fi access points and Wi-Fi zones 2007 2009
Table 52 Historic - i-Cable subscribers per service 2002 2009
Table 53 Historic - Fixed lines in service and penetration 2007 2009
Table 54 Historic - Fixed-line telephony subscribers 2000 2015
List of Charts
Chart 1 Development of telecom market revenue and investment 2010 2019
Chart 2 Change in the number of fixed numbers ported 2010 2020
Chart 3 Change in the number of mobile numbers ported 2010 - 2020
Chart 4 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2010 2025
Chart 5 Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2010 - 2025
Chart 6 Growth in the number of HKT's mobile subscribers by type 2010 2019
Chart 7 Development of HKT's mobile financial data - (US$ million) 2012 2019
Chart 8 Development of HKT's financial data (US$ million) 2016 2019
Chart 9 Development of HKT's mobile financial data (HK$ million) 2012 2019
Chart 10 Change in the number of 3 Hutchison's mobile subscribers 2009 2019
Chart 11 Development of Hutchison 3's financial data 2015 - 2019
Chart 12 Development of Hutchison 3's revenue by type 2015 - 2019
Chart 13 Development of Hutchison 3's postpaid ARPU, AMPU and churn 2010 2019
Chart 14 Development of SmarTone's financial data 2009 2020
Chart 15 Change in SmarTone's mobile ARPU 2009 2019
Chart 16 Growth in the number of SmarTone's mobile subscribers 2009 2019
Chart 17 Growth in the number of HKBN's mobile subscribers 2017 2020
Chart 18 Development of HKBN's mobile ARPU 2017 2020
Chart 19 Top 15 countries in Asia by average broadband speed 2019
Chart 20 Top 15 countries in Asia by average fixed broadband cost 2019
Chart 21 Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2010 2025
Chart 22 Growth in the number of fixed broadband residential / business internet subscribers 2010 2020
Chart 23 Increase in fixed broadband traffic 2010 2020
Chart 24 Development of HKBN's financial data 2016 2020
Chart 25 Growth in the number of HKBN's broadband subscribers 2010 2020
Chart 26 Development of HKBN's fixed broadband ARPU 2014 2020
Chart 27 Development of HKBN's fixed broadband ARPU 2011 2019
Chart 28 Growth in the number of HKT's fixed broadband subscribers (thousand) 2010 2019
Chart 29 Growth in the number of public Wi-Fi access points and Wi-Fi zones 2007 2019
Chart 30 Change in the number of i-Cable's subscribers by service 2010 2019
Chart 31 Decline in the number of fixed lines and penetration 2010 2025
Chart 32 Increase in international bandwidth 2010 2018
Chart 33 Growth in equipped and activated internet bandwidth capacity 2010 2019
Chart 34 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
FEATURED COMPANIES
- China Mobile HK
- CITIC Telecom
- CSL
- HGC Global Communications
- Hong Kong Telecom (HKT)
- i-Cable
Hong Kong takes strong steps towards launching 5G mobile services. Hong Kong possesses a small but well-developed mobile market and a number of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs). Intense competition within a small market has led to consolidation, with the number of mobile network operators reduced to four.
Mobile subscriber penetration is now well over 200% due to the high number of tourists visiting Hong Kong and a high number of local residents with more than one mobile device. Mobile subscriber growth is expected to be relatively low over the next five years to 2024 due to a highly mature and highly competitive market.
Mobile broadband subscriber growth is expected to be relatively low over the next five years to 2024 due to a highly mature mobile subscriber market, with a significant proportion of subscribers already having mobile broadband access.
The government of Hong Kong expects the territory to be among the world’s earliest adopters of 5G mobile technology in 2020. During 2018-19, a number of Hong Kong Mobile Operators are paving the way for the introduction of 5G services. China Mobile Hong Kong (CMHK) has tested an end-to-end 5G network using Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) enabling in-home high-speed Wi-Fi internet access to end-users. The extensive roll-out of fixed broadband infrastructure has allowed Hong Kong to provide almost all households with access to high-speed broadband connectivity. Internationally, Hong Kong’s broadband penetration rate is among the highest in the world.
Broadband investment initially focused on DSL and HFC technology platforms although operators have switched focus to higher bandwidth fibre access platforms, due to the inherent advantage of fibre access networks over competing platforms, especially in the geographically compact territory of Hong Kong.
Fixed-line broadband market penetration has grown slowly over the past five years in a highly mature market. Over the next five years to 2024 growth is expected to continue to increase slowly. 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 including TVs, smartphones, tablets and PCs; and increasing usage of corporate broadband services that include cloud services and software.
Underpinned by widely accessible, fast and affordable fixed and mobile broadband services, Hong Kong has developed into a digital economy to improve socio-economic development. Technology has been utilised to improve the quality, accessibility and affordability of commerce, government services, healthcare, education and utilities. Hong Kong’s small size and high population density has enabled the country to extensively rollout fixed broadband infrastructure and provide almost all households with access to high-speed broadband connectivity. This has propelled Hong Kong to boast the highest peak average broadband speeds in the world.
International internet connectivity continues to grow, driven by Hong Kong’s status as an international financial hub and its location next to China. Fixed line growth in Hong Kong has declined over the past five years as consumers migrate to wireless voice and data services. This trend is predicted to continue over the next five years to 2024. While current data centre sites are sufficient to support immediate demand, Hong Kong needs cheaper land options for data centre usage and government support to achieve its long-term goal as a data centre hub and smart city.
The government has taken steps towards the coordinated development of a smart city. The Hong Kong government announced a range of measures in six areas, including “Smart Mobility”, “Smart Living”, and “Smart Environment”, which will be introduced over the next few years to 2024.
Underpinning 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 the integration of new mobile related technologies designed to improve wireless broadband capacity and service quality.
Key Developments
- Hong Kong expects the territory to be among the world's earliest adopters of 5G mobile technology in 2020.
- CMHK claimed to be the first operator in Hong Kong to test an end-to-end 5G network using Customer Premises Equipment (CPE).
- Mobile broadband subscriber growth is expected to be relatively low over the next five years to 2024.
- Fixed-line broadband market penetration has grown slowly over the past five years in a highly mature market.
- HGC Global Communications is looking to 5G as a key opportunity for its fibre business.
- Fixed line growth in Hong Kong has declined over the past five years. This trend will continue over the next five years to 2024.
- 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
