Hong Kong’s Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA) has confirmed the existing mobile operators, China Mobile, HKT and SmarTone, as three bidders in the auction of the radio spectrum in the 1800 MHz band. The Government will release 2x4.8 MHz of radio spectrum in the 1800 MHz band in an effort to boost the capacity of public mobile services. The internet-based auction will take place on 8 June.

QUALIFIED BIDDER NOTICE

This is a notice referred to in paragraph 3.3.1 of the Notice dated 24 April 2009 issued by the Telecommunications Authority (the “Authority”) in exercise of the powers conferred by section 32I of the Telecommunications Ordinance, the Telecommunications (Level of Spectrum Utilization Fees)
(Second Generation Mobile Services) Regulation, the Telecommunications (Determining Spectrum Utilization Fees by Auction) Regulation and all other powers enabling him to specify the terms and conditions of the Auction and the payment of the Spectrum Utilization Fees. Unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise requires, words and expressions used in this notice have the same meaning as that given to them in the Notice.

2. The Authority hereby announces that the following Bidders are Qualified Bidders (in alphabetical order):

(a) China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited;
(b) Hong Kong Telecommunications (HKT) Limited; and
(c) SmarTone Mobile Communications Limited.

3. The Qualified Bidders are eligible for participating in the Bidding Stage. Each Qualified Bidder will be informed of the details of the Bidding Stage separately by a Bidding Stage Notice referred to in paragraph 4.3.1 of the Notice.

Telecommunications Authority
27 May 2009