To cope with the demand created by mainland's development of the network in future, Hong Kong is ready to launch 3G services using TD-SCDMA standard, the Office of the Telecommunications Authority said yesterday.

Speaking at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) World 2006 expo, the authority Deputy Director-General Ha Yung-kuen said he was confident that Hong Kong operators would be interested in providing services using the standard.

The standard, currently undergoing tests, is being regarded as a "home grown" standard as its development was spearheaded by the mainland companies, such as Datang Telecom.

But it was not officially announced as yet when the 3G licence would be awarded in the mainland.

Ha said the four 3G operators in Hong Kong, SmarTone, Hong Kong CSL, Hutchison 3G HK and Sunday, were given frequencies to operate 3G service on both W-CDMA standard and TD-SCDMA standard.

The operators had launched 3G service on W-CDMA standard since 2004/2005.

But Ha said the operators could launch TD-SCDMA service at any time in Hong Kong according to their own business plan. He said the situation was mature to develop TD-SCDMA 3G services.

The government still holds two licences of TD-SCDMA standard, and would sell them to interested parties if none of the four operators willing to provide 3G service based on the standard.

Ha said none of the four operators had expressed plan to offer services on TD-SCDMA standard. He, however, was confident that the service had market demand in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Wireless Development Centre had commenced a test on TD-SCDMA technology, with the support of Datang Mobile.

Datang Mobile and Hong Kong Wireless Technology Industry Association had also jointly organized a TD-SCDMA application development programme in July.

ITU strategy and policy unit head Tim Kelly said the mainland could afford to have its own standard for 3G because it is the world's largest market.

Even if the mainland adopted the homegrown standard, Kelly said manufacturers could easily adopt the requirement and produce phones that could be used for multiple standards.

Kelly said it was important for the mainland to spread communication technology use to rural areas in the future and he expected the mainland market would continue to grow.

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