Macau’s telecommunications landscape is set for a significant shift as local leading telecom operator CTM has acquired Hutchison Telephone (Macau) (known as “3 Macau”, 澳門和記) for 10 million patacas, analysts told the Post last night.
According to Macau’s Commercial and Movable Goods Registry, CTM and its parent company, CTM (HK) Limited, hold all shares of the “3 Macau” telecom operator with a nominal value of 10 million patacas.
CTM itself is majority-owned by CITIC Telecom International Holdings (99 percent) (中信國際電) and the Macao Post and Telecommunications Bureau (CTT) (1 percent).
CTT announced in a statement last night that it has received a report from CTM about the acquisition of “3 Macau”. However, the latter continues to operate and provide commercial services, the statement said, adding that the government constantly monitors all telecom operators to provide stable mobile telecommunications services to the public.
The statement underscored that the existing local regulations and licensing conditions govern operators’ competitive behaviour, prohibiting actions that violate fair competition or constitute abuse of a dominant market position, adding that the government is actively advancing the drafting of a new telecommunications bill. Following the completion of an industry consultation at the end of last year, legislative procedures are expected to be finalised within this year, aiming to encourage more telecom operators to enter the local market and promote greater diversity in telecommunications services, the statement.
The bill would need to be passed by the Macau Legislative Assembly (AL) to become law.
“3 Macau”, a subsidiary of Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings, a member of the CK Hutchison Holdings (長江和記實業集團) conglomerate, has provided mobile communication services in Macau since its incorporation in late 2000. Its investment in Macau’s radio spectrum* will expire in 2028.
The acquisition follows SmarTone Macau’s exit from the local telecom market last June, when its mobile telecommunications licence was terminated and its customers were transitioned to CTM.
Currently, Macau’s mobile telecommunications market features three major integrated service operators: CTM, “3 Macau”, and China Telecom (Macau).
The analysts contacted by the Post yesterday said that the takeover would further consolidate CTM’s already dominant position in the local market.
The “3 Macau” official website showed last night that its three retail outlets operating in Macau are located on Rua do Campo (水坑尾街), Estrada de Coelho do Amaral (連勝馬路), and Rua Um do Bairro Iao Hon (祐漢新村第一街).
* The radio spectrum is the part of the electromagnetic spectrum that is used for wireless communication. – DeepSeek
Staff work at the “3 Macau” shop on Rua do Campo (水坑尾街) last night. – Photo courtesy of TDM
