4G mobile services to be ready next year

Hoi Chi Leong

The new Fourth Generation (4G) mobile network can be built in as soon as six months, whereas 4G data services are expected to be provided only by the fourth quarter of next year.
Yesterday afternoon, the Bureau of Telecommunications Regulation (DSRT) technicians opened six tenders that were submitted by all four current telecommunications operators in Macau, as well as two new bidders.
China Mobile Hong Kong Company and a local new mobile operator founded specially for the tender, namely U Hong Communications Ltd, joined the competition for the four 4G mobile services licenses, besides CTM, China Telecom, Hutchison Macau and SmartTone.
“We’re very happy to see different operators willing to invest and develop telecommunication services in Macau. We expect to have the tendering result out in the first quarter of next year,” said the DSRT deputy director, Hoi Chi Leong.
He explained that the assessment criteria covers technical capacity, amount of investment, the company’s financial condition, plan of network coverage, tarrif scheme, mobile data protection and safeguard measures against malfunction.
“Our bid evaluation committee will select the investors who can bring more benefits to Macau’s telecom market,” Mr Hoi stated, adding that currently the DSRT isn’t considering issuing any more 4G licenses.
According to the telecom regulator, all the bidding companies are requested to start providing 4G data services and achieve 50 percent network coverage within the next year.
Responding to the media’s inquiry on whether such a timeframe would be unfair to the new bidders, Hoi said that all will be treated equally.
“Basically we are looking at the overall demand of society; we’ve stipulated the standard clearly in the tendering rules. If they were not confident to achieve that, they wouldn’t have come to bid,” he added. “The Bureau has also formulated the penalties for failing to meet the requirements.”
Head of U Hong Communications, Mr Patrick Yang,  who is also MASTV’s deputy director, likewise expressed confidence in his firm’s capabilities. “Our company has experience in satellite communications; we are trying to expand our business and provide local residents with diversified telecom services.”
“I think [the] Macau government will support local companies; as one of the two operators, we have more advantages in building the network and operational recources, rather than the overseas companies,” he added.