3 bidders for HK mobile TV
June 7, 2010
Hong Kong's Telecommunications Authority has announced the three bidders for a 'Broadcast-type Mobile TV Services' licence, to operate between 678-686 MHz in the UHF band. They are: China Mobile Hong Kong Corporation Limited; City Telecom (H.K.) Limited; and Hong Kong Telecommunications (HKT) Limited.
Even though Hong Kong has adopted the Chinese digital terrestrial system for TV broadcasting it says that the auction for a mobile TV services is technologically neutral. As a result they will accept applications for any widely accepted technology that will work within the terms and conditions of the licence in the 8MHz slot offered.
“At present, 2.5G and 3G mobile operators are deploying streaming-type point-to-point technologies to deliver audio-visual content to consumers. The assignment of the 678-686 MHz band will enable the deployment of broadcast-type point-to-multipoint technologies to deliver audio-visual content to a much larger number of consumers,” suggested an OFTA spokesman when bids were invited.
The licence will be valid for 15 years and the successful bidder will be required to use at least 75 per cent of the transmission capacity to deliver mobile TV content. Service coverage must reach at least 50 per cent of the Hong Kong population within 18 months from the grant of the licence