The government has reaffirmed that the city’s 5G services are expected to be available in the first quarter of next year or even earlier.
Post and Telecommunications Bureau (CTT) Director Lau Wai Meng made the remarks during a press conference on Friday.
The government had received two bids for 5G licences before the tender’s submission deadline on August 12. The two bidders are CTM and China Telecom (Macau) Limited. Both are among the city’s current four telecom operators that are running 4G services.
The two bids were unsealed by CTT officials on August 15. Both bids were accepted.
The government’s tender of 5G licences was launched on June 30. Initially, the government’s tender was up to four 5G licences.
During Friday’s press conference, Lau reaffirmed that the government is now assessing the two bids and is expected to announce its decision by the end of this year. Lau underlined that the government will grant two 5G licences if it concludes that both bids meet the officially required criteria and standards.
Lau said that if the government is able to grant one or two 5G licences before the end of this year, the respective operator or operators can be expected to be able to start its 5G services in the first quarter of next year or even earlier.
Friday’s press conference at Government Headquarters was about the government’s amendments to its administration regulation (by-law) on licence fees and fines concerning the city’s radioelectric services. According to the press conference, which was also attended by Secretary for Administration and Justice André Cheong Weng Chon, the amendments aim to enable the city’s future 5G services to be more affordable.
Government-drafted by-laws, officially known as administrative regulations, do not require the legislature’s approval.
Post and Telecommunications Bureau (CTT) Director Lau Wai Meng addresses Friday’s press conference at Government Headquarters. – Photo courtesy of TDM
