Highlights of the Year 2006/07

06/2006

In collaboration with the telecommunications industry, OFTA took the initiative to tackle the problem of unsolicited promotional calls generated by machines (usually referred to as "junk calls"), and issued a Code of Practice for voluntary compliance by operators on the handling of customer complaints about such calls. The Code is proving its efficacy as the volume of junk calls has fallen considerably since its introduction.

07/2006

Paving the way for the advent of Fixed-Mobile Convergence, OFTA published a second consultation paper to solicit public views on the proposed regulatory changes. The TA issued a statement in April 2007 announcing his conclusions of the consultations.

09/2006

With the ongoing collaboration of the Government and mobile network operators, mobile network coverage in Hong Kong's country parks continued to improve. On 3 September 2006, a ceremony was held at Fung Yuen Village, Tai Po, to mark the improvements in mobile network coverage in the country areas of Tai Po.

On the same day, 99 digital maps showing useful information on mobile network coverage over 99 popular hiking trails in Hong Kong's country parks were published on OFTA's web site. By March 2006, these numbers had increased to 147 digital maps.

10/2006

OFTA issued a consultation paper to solicit public views on the proposal to release spectrum in the 850 MHz frequency band for the provision of mobile services on the CDMA2000 standard. In April 2007, the TA announced his decision to auction the relevant spectrum and to issue a licence for the deployment of a CDMA2000 mobile service in the 4th quarter of 2007.

12/2006

OFTA conducted a consultation on the proposal to review universal service obligation (USO) arrangements introduced in 1998. The TA issued a statement with the conclusion of the review in June 2007.

02/2007

To protect consumer interests, OFTA created a new Class Licence to regulate telecommunications services offered by telecommunications service resellers. Typical examples of telecommunications services offered by resellers are international calling cards and pre-paid SIM cards for mobile phone services.

In view of the submarine cable disruption caused by the earthquakes in the Luzon Strait in December 2006, OFTA implemented new guidelines on the reporting of network and service outages of submarine cable systems and Internet services, after consultation with the industry. We also reviewed the contingency plans of major Internet service providers and began exploring the timely exchange of information with Mainland China and other administrations.

03/2007

Supporting the Government's initiative to strengthen Hong Kong's WiFi networks, OFTA revised the "Guidance Note for Submission of Application for Installing Micro-cell Base Station on Highway Facilities or on Unleased and Unallocated Government Land" with a view to facilitating network operators' use of public lamp-posts to install public WiFi access points.