SmarTone

SmarTone Telecommunications Holdings Limited (0315.HK), listed in Hong Kong since 1996 and a subsidiary of Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited, is a leading telecommunications provider with operating subsidiaries in Hong Kong, offering voice, multimedia and mobile broadband services, as well as fixed fibre broadband services for both consumer and corporate markets. SmarTone spearheaded 5G development in Hong Kong since May 2020, with the launch of its territory-wide 5G services.[1] SmarTone is also the first in Hong Kong to launch Home 5G Broadband service.[2]

History

SmarTone was launched by Sun Hung Kai Properties and ABC Communications in 1992. It started operations in March 1993 as the first GSM network in Hong Kong and in Asia. It used to have another branding EXTRA for its GSM-1800-only packages obtained by the acquisition of P Plus Communications in March 1998. The brand EXTRA ended in 2002 and was merged into SmarTone's dual-band network.[3]

A new branding "SmarTone-

Network Development

Hong Kong

2G

March 1993 – Launched Asia's first GSM mobile service
December 1993 – Launched Asia's first auto-GSM roaming service
December 2002 – Launched SmarTone iN! – Proprietary advanced multimedia services mobile portal for customers
August 2012 – Re-farmed the 2G 1800 MHz frequency band for its 4G LTE network and put into use [14]
September 2014 – Announced in the 2013/2014 Annual Results Announcement that it started to re-farm its 2G 900 MHz spectrum for 4G LTE, to provide even better coverage. The re-farming targets to complete at the end of 2014 [15]
August 2022 - Announced to Terminate 2G Services on 14 October 2022 [16]

3G

December 2004 – Launched 3G services
July 2007 – Became the first company in the world to enable customers to stream flash video when browsing on any 3G feature phone
April 2010 – Debut 28.8 Mbit/s HSPA+ network
September 2001 – Successfully bid the 3G license in Hong Kong [17]
March 2011 – Won the auction for 850 MHz frequency band for its 3G service [18]

4G

August 2012 – Launched its 4G service with 1800 MHz spectrum, supporting all 4G smartphones available in Hong Kong. 1800 MHz spectrum provides better indoor coverage than higher frequency spectrum [19]
September 2012 – Became the only Hong Kong mobile operator approved by Apple to offer 4G on iPhone 5. SmarTone emphasized that "it is the only operator in HK offers 4G network on iPhone 5" [20]
November 2012 – Extended 4G LTE coverage on all MTR Island Line stations and targets to offer 4G LTE coverage at all MTR stations and its connecting tunnels in early 2013 [21][22]
January 2013 – Provided 4G LTE network along the seven MTR lines (Island Line, Kwun Tong Line, Tsuen Wan Line, Tseng Kwan O Line, Tung Chung Line, Disney Line and the Airport Express). In the same year, it successfully bid for 2 x 10 MHz at the 2600 MHz frequency band for its 4G network to expand its network capacity and offer higher speed

5G

November 2016 – Partnered with Ericsson for a five-year partnership toward 5G, commencing early trials and pilot deployments of key pre-5G technologies to take place in Q4 2016 [14]
May 2020 - Launched its 5G service[31]
Sept 2020 - Launched its Home 5G Broadband Service [32]
Oct 2021 - Acquired 65 MHz of New Radio Spectrum Expanding Network Capacity to Support Future 5G Business Growth[33][34]

2G

March 1993 – Launched Asia's first GSM mobile service
December 1993 – Launched Asia's first auto-GSM roaming service
December 2002 – Launched SmarTone iN! – Proprietary advanced multimedia services mobile portal for customers
August 2012 – Re-farmed the 2G 1800 MHz frequency band for its 4G LTE network and put into use [14]
September 2014 – Announced in the 2013/2014 Annual Results Announcement that it started to re-farm its 2G 900 MHz spectrum for 4G LTE, to provide even better coverage. The re-farming targets to complete at the end of 2014 [15]
August 2022 - Announced to Terminate 2G Services on 14 October 2022 [16]

3G

December 2004 – Launched 3G services
July 2007 – Became the first company in the world to enable customers to stream flash video when browsing on any 3G feature phone
April 2010 – Debut 28.8 Mbit/s HSPA+ network
September 2001 – Successfully bid the 3G license in Hong Kong [17]
March 2011 – Won the auction for 850 MHz frequency band for its 3G service [18]

4G

August 2012 – Launched its 4G service with 1800 MHz spectrum, supporting all 4G smartphones available in Hong Kong. 1800 MHz spectrum provides better indoor coverage than higher frequency spectrum [19]
September 2012 – Became the only Hong Kong mobile operator approved by Apple to offer 4G on iPhone 5. SmarTone emphasized that "it is the only operator in HK offers 4G network on iPhone 5" [20]
November 2012 – Extended 4G LTE coverage on all MTR Island Line stations and targets to offer 4G LTE coverage at all MTR stations and its connecting tunnels in early 2013 [21][22]
January 2013 – Provided 4G LTE network along the seven MTR lines (Island Line, Kwun Tong Line, Tsuen Wan Line, Tseng Kwan O Line, Tung Chung Line, Disney Line and the Airport Express). In the same year, it successfully bid for 2 x 10 MHz at the 2600 MHz frequency band for its 4G network to expand its network capacity and offer higher speed [23]

5G

November 2016 – Partnered with Ericsson for a five-year partnership toward 5G, commencing early trials and pilot deployments of key pre-5G technologies to take place in Q4 2016 [14]
May 2020 - Launched its 5G service[31]
Sept 2020 - Launched its Home 5G Broadband Service [32]
Oct 2021 - Acquired 65 MHz of New Radio Spectrum Expanding Network Capacity to Support Future 5G Business Growth[33][34]
May 2022 - 5G network coverage extends to East Rail Line cross-harbour extension Optimal network experience spanning all Hong Kong MTR stations

Macau

The 2G, 3G and 4G networks of SmarTone Macau were built by Nokia Networks.[37][38]

2G

July 2001 – Launched GSM mobile service in Macau
Its market share was estimated at approximately 11% as of December 31, 2003.[39]
2019 - 2G service terminated as Macau decommissioned 2G network.[40]

3G

2G

July 2001 – Launched GSM mobile service in Macau
Its market share was estimated at approximately 11% as of December 31, 2003.[39]
2019 - 2G service terminated as Macau decommissioned 2G network.[40]

3G

July 2010 – Launched 3G service in Macau

4G

November 2015 – Launched 4G service in Macau
August 2024 - The Macau SAR Government has received an application from SmarTone to forgo the 4G license and plans to cease renewing the 3G license after expiration.[41] According to the Post and Telecommunications Bureau (CTT), SmarTone (at that time) had a relatively small market share in Macau, only a single-digit percentage.[42]
SmarTone MAC is the only carrier not yet to offer VoLTE in Macau, till its operation ceased.[43]

type	Public
traded as	sehk: 315
industry	Mobile telecommunication
foundation	1992 (in British Hong Kong)
location	Hong Kong
area served	Hong Kong
key people	Raymond Kwok (Chairman) Allen Fung (Deputy Chairman) Fiona Lau (Chief Executive Officer) Stephen Chau (Chief Technology Officer)
services	Mobile 5G Home Broadband Fibre Broadband Roaming Value-added Services
parent	Sun Hung Kai Properties
website	www.smartone.com
num employees	1,737
num employees year	full-time only, 30 June 2022

History

Network Development

Hong Kong

2G

3G

4G

5G

2G

3G

4G

5G

Macau

2G

3G

2G

3G

4G

Home 5G Broadband Service

Fibre Broadband Service

See also

References

4G