The Office of the Telecommunications Authority has launched its second consultation on the development of mobile television services in Hong Kong.

It proposes to allocate one multiplex in UHF Band and two multiplexes in Band III for deployment of broadcast-type mobile TV services.

For the allocation of the multiplexes in UHF Band and Band III, it proposes to adopt a pro-mobile TV approach. At least 50% of the transmission capacity should be used to carry mobile TV content, while the remainder can be used to provide other ancillary services.

To give operators flexibility the 50% mandatory percentage of transmission capacity dedicated for mobile TV content will be subject to review five years after the service launch.

Spectrum auction

The frequency spectrum should be assigned through auction. Pre-qualification and rollout obligations should be required to safeguard the effectiveness and efficiency of the assignment of the frequency spectrum. The utilisation fee will be determined by auction.

To foster growth of mobile TV and having regard to international practices and the need to protect public morals and children, the office suggests adopting a light-handed approach for licensing and regulating content provided over the mobile TV platform.

The two options proposed are:

* to license and regulate mobile TV as a new category of television programme service under the Broadcasting Ordinance; or,

* to regulate mobile TV by general laws as it is now but to require the industry to implement a code of practice for self-regulation.

Hilltop transmission

In the light of the scarcity of hilltop transmission sites the office said the facilities should be used efficiently and effectively to meet the needs of telecommunications broadcasting.

The sharing of these hilltop sites and facilities with existing users is subject to mutual agreements through commercial negotiation but the office can intervene and adjudicate if mutual agreement cannot be reached.

Subject to the comments received in the consultation exercise the authority plans to announce the implementation framework in mid-2008 to be followed by the making of the necessary subsidiary legislation under the Telecommunications Ordinance. The office plans to auction the frequency spectrum in early 2009.