Embracing the New 5G Era
“Embracing the New 5G Era” is a thematic website which aims to enhance public understanding on how the fifth generation (5G) mobile technology will change our means of communications and enable the development of various innovative applications. This website also introduces the preparatory and ongoing facilitating work carried out by the Communications Authority (CA) and the Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) for the development of 5G services in Hong Kong.
Supply of new spectrum for provision of 5G services in Hong Kong
Timely supply of radio spectrum to the industry is a major focus of the CA’s work to facilitate the continued development of 5G services in Hong Kong.
In 2019/2020, the CA assigned the first batch totalling 1 980 MHz of new radio spectrum in the 3.3 GHz, 3.5 GHz, 4.9 GHz, 26 GHz and 28 GHz bands for public mobile telecommunications use, including the provision of 5G services. In order to meet the needs of various 5G applications in terms of speed, capacity and coverage, the CA continued to release more new spectrum in different frequency bands to the market. Following the successful conclusion of the spectrum auction conducted in October 2021, 80 MHz of additional spectrum in the 4.9 GHz band was assigned to two mobile network operators (“MNOs”) in December 2021 and 70 MHz of spectrum in the 700 MHz band was assigned to four MNOs in June 2022. Under the technology-neutral approach in spectrum assignment, MNOs can also freely refarm the spectrum previously assigned to them for 5G use.
Details of the spectrum in different frequency bands released for the provision of public 5G services in Hong Kong and the corresponding progress of 5G spectrum release in other advanced economies are illustrated in the table below:
Summary of Assignment Arrangements for 5G Spectrum in Various Frequency Bands
Note:
(*) Any use within the restriction zones of Tai Po and Stanley shall comply with the relevant guidelines and directions issued by the CA.
(**) Out of the total 160 MHz of spectrum in the 4.9 GHz band, 80 MHz of spectrum has been put into use since December 2019 while the remaining 80 MHz of spectrum has been put into use since December 2021.
Launch of 5G
Further to the successful assignment of the first batch of 5G spectrum in 2019/2020, commercial 5G services were launched in Hong Kong in April 2020. By November 2022, the subscription of 5G services reached almost 4.4 million. The existing 5G coverage in Hong Kong has reached over 90% of the population, covering all the major business districts, shopping centres and local Mass Transit Railway stations.
Additional Spectrum for 5G
The CA will continue to keep abreast of worldwide development trends in telecommunications and monitor spectrum planning at international and regional levels, with a view to ensuring timely release of suitable spectrum to meet the needs of emerging radiocommunications services and to facilitate the on-going development of public 5G mobile and other innovative services in Hong Kong.
28 GHz: Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, US
28 GHz: Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, US
Note:
(*) Any use within the restriction zones of Tai Po and Stanley shall comply with the relevant guidelines and directions issued by the CA.
Launch of 5G
Further to the successful assignment of the first batch of 5G spectrum in 2019/2020, commercial 5G services were launched in Hong Kong in April 2020. Within two years' time, by March 2022, the subscription of 5G services exceeded 3.2 million. As of March 2022, 5G coverage in Hong Kong has reached over 90% of the population, covering all the major business districts, shopping centres and local Mass Transit Railway stations.
Additional Spectrum for 5G
The CA will continue to keep abreast of worldwide development trends in telecommunications and monitor spectrum planning at international and regional levels, with a view to ensuring timely release of suitable spectrum to meet the needs of emerging radiocommunications services and to facilitate the on-going development of public 5G mobile and other innovative services in Hong Kong.
Facilitating mobile network operators (MNOs) and other interested parties to conduct 5G trials
To facilitate the telecommunications industry to deploy 5G technologies effectively, OFCA has been actively encouraging and supporting the telecommunications industry to conduct various trials for 5G radio transmissions and technology applications since 2017. OFCA has been issuing trial permits with free of charge and short-term assignment of 5G spectrum in various frequency bands to MNOs and other interested parties for the conduct of technical tests using 5G radio equipment. The test results are published for public information and made available at 'Technical Reports' on the OFCA website.
Facilitating base station and
small cell installation
Similar to the development of 3G and 4G networks and services in the past, MNOs have to progressively install a large number of 5G radio base stations and small cells in various districts of Hong Kong, in order to provide 5G network coverage and capacity to support very high-speed data transmission and more diversified mobile services.
OFCA endeavours to provide necessary assistance to MNOs to facilitate their installation of base stations at government buildings and public facilities.
In parallel, OFCA will continue to ensure that the level of non-ionizing radiation of base stations and small cells are in compliance with internationally recognised safety standards and limits.
