DSRT: Tri-network licence issuance complete in three years

The local telecommunications regulator said that it has started pre-preparatory works for the issuance of tri-network licences – including the drafting of related regulations – hoping residents will have new options for telecom services within three years. Three-network convergence, or tri-network integration, is the integration of telecommunications networks, cable TV networks and the Internet. The city will complete the licence issuances for the three-network convergence within three years, according to the acting director of the Bureau of Telecommunications Regulation (DSRT), Tam Van Iu, who claims the Bureau is working on the pre-preparation for the issuance, including preparation of new telecommunication licences for the SAR, the acting head told reporters on the sidelines of a public event yesterday. “We need certain preparation before the issuance of licences, such as drafting regulations and preparing auxiliary facilities for networks […] The whole process may take between two and three years, from carrying out regulations to issuing operational licences,” Ms. Tam said. “Following the full opening up of the telecommunications market, whilst current services and networks [are meeting the standards], we are speeding up the process to issue other licences, hoping residents would have one more options for overall telecommunication services,” the official added. The city’s draft of its first Five-Year Development Plan, released at the end of last month, suggests operators start providing tri-network services in 2019. Following the launch of local 4G services, Ms. Tam said the Bureau had received complaints about the services. Without disclosing details of these complaints to reporters, the official claimed her Bureau would pay close attention to these and request operators to follow up and address the complaints. MTel to cover 70 pct of local residences by year-end On the other hand, the chairman of fixed-line telecommunication service provider MTel Telecommunication Company Ltd., Michael Choi, is confident that his company’s network will cover 70 per cent of local residential buildings as mandated in its contract with the government. According to Mr. Choi, the company’s network currently covers 55 per cent of the Peninsula and 45 per cent of Taipa, as well as 50 per cent of Coloane. The MTel chairman yesterday urged the Transport Bureau (DSRT) to give the nod to the company on over 300 applications for road works to lay cables, so that it could meet the requirement of the network to cover all local schools by the end of this year. “The government did not approve any of MTel’s road work applications last year as it said other companies were conducting other construction. However, MTel needs to cover all local schools by this year-end. If it doesn’t give the green light again this year, what should we do?” the MTel boss queried.