The Office of the Telecommunications Authority will release two more spectrums by auction in the fourth quarter of 2008 to enable the provision of Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) services.

BWA is a radio access technology that can support a variety of wide area high-speed wireless data services. In addition to deployment as wireless backhaul links for fixed or mobile networks, the technology can also be used in customer access networks, such as direct access networks for mobile customers or broadband wireless local loops for fixed customers replacing the conventional copper wire.

The 2.3-2.4 GHz (the 2.3 GHz band) and the 2.5-2.69 GHz (the 2.5 GHz band) spectrums will be auctioned.

More choice

The authority said the bands will allow the introduction of BWA services, facilitating the development of Hong Kong into an advanced wireless city.

Consumers will have greater choice of innovative services, including mobile broadband networks, so they can access the Internet and multimedia services at affordable prices anytime, anywhere and while on the move.

The BWA services will use the new Unified Carrier Licence to be created by the Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development.

Competitive auction

Details of the pre-qualification requirements, the auction rules and the reserve price will be released nearer to auction time. The Government aims to create a competitive environment for the auction and any interested party including incumbent fixed and mobile carriers will be welcome to bid.

The subsidiary legislation for imposing spectrum utilisation fees on the use of the 2.3 and 2.5 GHz bands and the prescription of the method of determining the spectrum utilisation fee by auction will be tabled at the Legislative Council later.

BWA 2.3 or 2.5 GHz services are already, or soon will be, deployed in many economies, including Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, the UK, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and the US.