The Office of the Telecommunications Authority today launched a public consultation exercise on the licensing framework for deployment of broadband wireless access (BWA).

BWA refers to access technologies based on the use of high-capacity radio links to deliver telecommunications services, including broadband services.

The OFTA said recent developments in BWA for fixed-telecommunications services had attracted substantial interest worldwide. There are technical trials and commercial deployments of such technologies in Mainland China, the United States, the United Kingdom and other countries.

In Hong Kong, some telecommunications operators and equipment suppliers have expressed interest in the deployment of such technologies locally and have conducted technical trials. 

Typically, BWA is deployed to serve a wide area. It may be used as wireless backhaul for fixed or mobile networks, backhaul for connecting hot spots of Wi-Fi wireless local area network, or wireless local loop for broadband customers.

The advancement in wireless technologies and growing demand for both residential and corporate broadband access services have given rise to a potential market for BWA deployment in Hong Kong. It provides a possible alternative to the conventional wireline technologies that a fixed-network operator may consider adopting for speedy rollout of a broadband network.

The OFTA said deployment of BWA may spur further increase in the broadband penetration in Hong Kong, which will in turn promote the development of IP-based telephony and advanced multimedia services.

There are different industry standards for BWA, such as UMTS TDD, ETSI HiperMAN or IEEE 802.16 as advocated by the WiMAX Forum. Consistent with the technology neutrality principle, the authority does not intend to mandate the technology to be used in the delivery of BWA services in Hong Kong.

The authority invites views on whether BWA should be licensed in Hong Kong and if so, the appropriate timing for inviting applications for such licences.

The authority's preliminary view is to allocate the 3.4 - 3.6 GHz frequency band as a licensed band for offering BWA services, and the BWA in Hong Kong may initially be offered as a wireless extension of the conventional wireline-based fixed-network service.

Under this proposal, the licensing of BWA services will therefore fall within the fixed-carrier licensing regime. The authority is of the preliminary view that an auction should be adopted for assigning the spectrum.

The authority said BWA links may be deployed to serve buildings that would otherwise be uneconomical to serve due to a limited number of users or require disruptive road digging for laying the underground cables.

Fixed-network operators can roll out their last mile through BWA. In particular, this type of access technology will enable consumers who hitherto rely on Type II interconnection to provide a choice of service providers to continue to enjoy such choice when Type II interconnection is fully withdrawn by 2008.

A range of key topics have been raised for discussion, including frequency plan, standard, licensing and spectrum allocation issues. The authority hopes the consultation will encourage the industry and the public to review the potential for BWA services in Hong Kong and discuss the subject. Views collected will be studied thoroughly before the TA determines the appropriate BWA licensing framework.