Hutchison Global Crossing Lags On Hong Kong Interconnect
HONG KONG, CHINA, Jun 07, 2001 (Newsbytes via COMTEX) -- One of Hong Kong's three new fixed-line telephone companies has failed to meet targets set by the Hong Kong government, according to Hong Kong Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting Carrie Yau.
Hutchison Global Crossing Ltd, New T & T Hong Kong Ltd, and New World Telephone Ltd all won licenses to operate national fixed-line telephone networks in competition with incumbent Pacific Century CyberWorks-Hong Kong Telecom (PCCW-HKT).
As a condition of the licenses, the Hong Kong government set out minimum requirements covering network buildout, interconnection and capital investment. The requirements run to 2002, with interim milestones also mandated.
Yau, answering a question in Hong Kong's Legislative Council Wednesday, confirmed that Hutchison Global Crossing is yet to meet the interconnection requirement set for 2000.
All three companies were required to negotiate interconnection with local exchanges operated by PCCW-HKT. This enables each new operator to provide services on the incumbent carrier's local telephone access network, or local loop.
"All the operators have met the respective interim milestones made for 2000 except Hutchison Global Crossing, which has not completed the Type II interconnection in 3 local exchanges," Yau said.
She added that the regulator, the Telecommunications Authority, has requested Hutchison Global Crossing fulfill its set target.
Hutchison Global Crossing is the joint venture between Hong Kong conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa Ltd and Asia Global Crossing [NASDAQ:AGCX].
The other requirements cover the provision of direct network access to buildings in Hong Kong and a minimum capital investment.
Yau said that, given the current progress by the new carriers, over 50 percent of Hong Kong residential customers should be able to select an alternative local operator by the end of 2002.
By Adam Creed Reported By Newsbytes.com, newsbytes.com .
Copyright 2001 The Washington Post Company
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