Hong Kong’s Communications Authority (CA) has announced a wireless spectrum auction for the fourth quarter of this year to sell 325MHz of spectrum. The sale will include 220MHz of 5G-capable frequencies in the 600MHz, 700MHz and 4.9GHz bands, plus 105MHz of reassigned spectrum in the 850MHz and 2.5GHz/2.6GHz bands. The auction reserve prices will be set by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (SCED) nearer the time, while the spectrum utilisation fee (SUF) will be determined at auction. All frequencies become available to winning bidders in December 2021, apart from the 2.5GHz/2.6GHz spectrum, which will be released in March 2024.
The 85MHz of spectrum in the 700MHz and the 850MHz bands, plus the 90MHz at 2.5GHz/2.6GHz and 80MHz at 4.9GHz can be deployed in both indoor and outdoor locations for the provision of public mobile services, while the 70MHz in the 600MHz band is designated for indoor use to improve availability in areas such as shopping malls.
TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database notes that Hong Kong conducted sales of 5G-capable spectrum in the 3.3GHz, 3.5GHz, 4.9GHz and 26GHz ranges in 2019, with licences acquired by the four incumbent operators, Hutchison 3, HKT, China Mobile HK (CMHK) and SmarTone. The cellcos launched commercial 5G services in April and May 2020.
Source: https://www.commsupdate.com/articles/2021/03/31/hong-kong-announces-further-5g-auction/