Three mobile network operators have successfully bid for a total of 9.6 MHz of radio spectrum in the 1800 MHz frequency band at a total upfront spectrum utilisation fee of $46.1 million, the Office of the Telecommunications Authority says.

They are China Mobile Hong Kong Company, Hong Kong Telecommunications and SmarTone Mobile Communications Limited.

These provisional successful bidders must also pay an annual spectrum utilisation fee - $232,000 for each frequency band a year from September 30 to September 29, 2011, and $2.32 million for each frequency band a year or 5% of the network turnover in the year concerned from September 30, 2011, to September 29, 2021.

The office said the assignment of the radio spectrum through the auction enables the successful mobile network operators to expand their network capacity to meet the increasing demand.

The number of mobile users has reached 11.58 million up to March, representing a penetration rate of 165%.