Press Releases of February 1998
	Industry Workshop on Feasibility Study & Cost Benefit Analysis of Number Portability for Mobile Services in Hong Kong
	Telecommunications Authority Cancels Licence Granted to Uniglobe Telecom (Far East) Limited for the Provision of International Calling Card Service

(9:15 am - 1:00pm, 25 February 1998, Hotel Furama,
One Connaught Road Central, Hong Kong)

The Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA) announces today that it will hold an industry workshop on 25 February 1998 (Wednesday) at Hotel Furama, Hong Kong starting at 9:15 a.m. to discuss with the industry about the feasibility study and cost benefit analysis of number portability for mobile services in Hong Kong. At the workshop, the consultants, National Economic Research Associates (NERA), appointed by OFTA will present their preliminary findings.

After Hong Kong had successfully achieved full number portability for fixed telecommunications services by the end of 1996, the next step is for OFTA to consider whether number portability should be extended to mobile services as well so that customers can keep their mobile phone numbers if they change their subscription from one mobile operator to another" OFTA's spokesman said.

OFTA issued a consultation paper last July to consult the telecommunications industry about the introduction of the number portability for mobile services in Hong Kong. The industry generally shared the view that there would be a genuine need to conduct a thorough study on the technical and implementation options, cost-benefit analysis, implementation schedule and cost-recovery mechanism in implementing number portability for mobile services in Hong Kong. OFTA then appointed NERA to assist the Telecommunications Authority in the study," continued the OFTA's spokesman.

NERA started the project in last December and has now completed a preliminary report. In this industry workshop, NERA will present to and discuss with the industry about the preliminary findings and results of the study and solicit further views and comments before producing a final report in March 1998 for consideration by the Telecommunications Authority."

OFTA has invited members from the telecommunications industry, consumer and user groups and relevant professional organisations to participate in the workshop. Members from the media are also welcomed to attend. The programme of this industry workshop is attached for information. The preliminary report is available on OFTA's Internet home page at http://www.ofta.gov.hk.

Industry Workshop
Feasilbility Study & Cost Benefit Analysis
of Number Portability for Mobile Services in Hong Kong

Date :	25 February 1998
Time :	9:15 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Venue :	Coral Rooms 1-2, 3rd Floor, Hotel FURAMA, One Connaught Road Central, Hong Kong

Programme :

08:45 - 09:15	Registration
09:15 - 09:30	Welcome and Opening Remarks by Director-General of Telecommunications
09:30 - 10:00	Introduction of the Mobile Number Portability (MNP) Study for Hong Kong Mr Nigel Attenborough, Director, National Economic Research Associates
10:00 - 10:30	Study of technical implementation options and their costs for MNP in Hong Kong Dr Simon M Dunkley, System Engineer, Smith System Engineering Limited
10:30 - 10:45	Coffee Break
10:45 - 11:15	Findings of the consumer survey, benefits of MNP and summary results of cost-benefit analysis Mr George Siolis, Consultant, National Economic Research Associates
11:15 - 11:45	Cost allocation principles and their application to MNP in Hong Kong Mr Nigel Attenborough, Director, National Economic Research Associates
11:45 - 12:45	Questions and answers
12:45 - 13:00	Conclusion and Way Forward

Office of the Telecommunications Authority
23 February 1998

The Telecommunications Authority has today decided to cancel, with effect from 0001 hours on Saturday, 28 February 1998, the public non-exclusive telecommunications service ("PNETS") licence granted to Uniglobe Telecom (Far East) Limited ("Uniglobe") for the provision of international calling card service in Hong Kong.

The decision to cancel Uniglobe's PNETS licence was made by the Telecommunications Authority pursuant to section 34(4) of the Telecommunication Ordinance (Chapter 106, Laws of Hong Kong) for the reason that Uniglobe was convicted twice of offences contravening section 8(1)(a) and 8(1)(b) of the Telecommunication Ordinance, the first one at the Fanling Magistracy on 18 September 1997 and the second one at the District Court on 21 November 1997. The offences were related to the maintenance of means of telecommunication and the use of radiocommunication apparatus without a licence.

In the cases for which Uniglobe was prosecuted, Uniglobe had delivered customer traffic using illegal routing to places outside Hong Kong in contravention of the licence conditions. This had the effect of prejudicing fair competition in the market. To tolerate such activities would be unfair to operators who abide by the law," said a spokesman for the Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA).

OFTA will continue to monitor the market and take stern actions against operators who are in breach of the law in the operation," continued the spokesman.

The cancellation does not affect consumer interest as there are plenty of choices for consumers in the market for calling card and callback services," said the spokesman.

Following the cancellation of the PNETS licence by the Telecommunications Authority, Uniglobe must stop the operation of its international calling card service on or before 0001 hours on Saturday, 28 February 1998.

Office of the Telecommunications Authority
20 February 1998