PCCW-HKT Telephone Limited has gazetted its plan to increase its traditional fixed-mobile interconnection charge tariff from 4.36 cents to 5.45 cents per minute, effective from June 1, the Office of the Telecommunications Authority says.

The increase will end on April 27, 2009, when the regulatory guidance in favour of the 'mobile party's network pays' is withdrawn.

The authority said it has not arrived at the conclusion the increase would contravene the Telecommunications Ordinance's competition provisions, as PCCW's application for tariff amendment on April 17 is deemed to be approved after a 30-day period has lapsed.

The authority is prepared to help fixed and mobile network operators engaging in commercial negotiations relating to the regulatory guidance withdrawal of the 'mobile party's network pays'.

The authority said there have been no substantial negotiations between the mobile and the fixed network operators about the transition into a fully deregulated fixed-mobile convergence.

It decided to withdraw the current 'mobile party's network pays' arrangement for the deregulation for fixed-mobile convergence last April.