1977, 1988, 2000, 2013

1977 

Telecommunications was born in Macau on 12th May 1977 when the government issued three temporary licences to three companies to provide public paging services in Macau. One, Telecom (Macau) Menssagens por Rádio, Limitada, owned by Hong Kong holding Telecom Digital Group, is still soldiering on. The moment is also important because it marks the introduction of competition in the telecommunications service of Macau. 

1981 

A concession was awarded to the Macau Telecommunications Company, S.A.R.L. (CTM), with public telecommunications services officially entering the period of privatisation.  

“Prior to 1981,” recalls CTM, “residents in Macau had to wait many months simply to have a telephone connected. To make a telephone call to Hong Kong was a lengthy procedure which had to be placed through an operator.” 

1988 

Entry into analogue mobile phone (TACS) or 1G. AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone System) was the first generation of cellular system, consisting of analogue systems (which only allows voice transmission). It established the structure and basic functionalities associated with these systems, such as roaming and handover between cells.  

Developed by Bell Labs of the United States (1979) it went into operation in that country in 1983 making it the dominant analogue system on a world scale. It was standardised by EIA-553 and served as a basis for other analogue systems such as TACS in the UK and Hong Kong (Wikipedia). In Macau, TACS phones became known as ‘tai ko tai’. 

1991 

Total digitisation of the telephone network in Macau. 

1995 

An historic year, on the one hand, due to the launch of Internet services, and on the other due to the digital mobile telephone service (GSM) emerging simultaneously with the ‘old’ analogue service. 

2000 

The launch of broadband services and liberalisation of the mobile market. Two new operators (Hutchinson and SmarTone) arrived in the market, joining CTM. 

2005 

Commercial wireless broadband was launched. 

2007 

Three mobile operators now service Macau (China Unicom, Hong Kong Hutchison Telecommunications International, and CTM). Hutchison and CTM won 3G licences. In 2009, the government issued the fourth 3G licence, to SmarTone – Mobile Communications (Macau). 

2010 

The 100Mbps fibre broadband service was launched 

2011 

All analogue mobile telephones networks were terminated. 

2012 

“In 2012, the telecommunications market in Macau has been fully liberalised,” says the government. 

2013 

In June 2013, CTM and new operator MTEL were issued licences for the installation and operation of fixed public telecommunications networks. MTEL was obliged to start the commercial service by the end of 2014. 

2015 

Four licences were granted for the operation of the 4G network – to CTM, Hutchinson, China Telecom and Smartone.