Telecommunications | 4G licenses granted to four operators

The government has recently granted the new fourth generation (4G) mobile network licenses to four telecommunication companies, namely CTM, China Telecom, Smartone and Hutchinson. The eight-year contracts with the operators were published yesterday in the government’s Official Gazette (BO).
The four telecommunications companies are required to start providing 4G data services within the next year.
CTM is planning to invest a total of MOP485 million in the development of its 4G services by 2018. The company intends to make an initial investment of MOP260.8 million next year, and forecasts a 95 percent coverage rate within the first year.
China Telecom estimates to invest MOP345 million between 2016 and 2018. In the first year, the telecommunications giant plans to devote MOP126 million to the installation of its 4G network. The company is looking to build its network with a guaranteed 50 percent coverage for this year. It’s planning to ensure citywide coverage in 2016.
Smartone will be investing MOP60 million between 2016 and 2018. The company has planned a MOP25 million initial investment this year.
Finally, Hutchinson intends to invest a total of MOP239 million between this year and 2018. About MOP91 million will be spent this year.
According to information released by the Bureau of Telecommunications Regulation (DSRT) in March when it announced the four bid-winning companies, the assessment criteria covered technical capacity, investment amount, the company’s financial conditions, plans for network coverage, tariff schemes, mobile data protection and safeguard measures against malfunction.
The 4G operators will be paying five percent of their gross revenue to the government, an amount similar to the 3G service operators. CP