China Mobile Hong Kong

China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited, commonly known as CMHK, is a telecommunications operator serving Hong Kong as a wholly owned subsidiary of China Mobile Limited. The company traces its corporate origins to PEOPLES Telephone Company Limited, established in Hong Kong in June 1994. It received a personal communications services, or PCS, licence in September 1996 and became one of the earliest operators in Hong Kong to deploy PCS services. Reference material also describes the company as having been incepted in January 1997, reflecting the distinction between the establishment of its predecessor and the subsequent development of its operating business. The business initially operated under the PEOPLES name. In February 2004, it was renamed China Resources Peoples Telephone Company Limited after a change in parent-company affiliation involving China Resources. China Mobile acquired the business in October 2005, after which the company adopted the name China Mobile Peoples Telephone Company Limited in April 2006. In March 2006, it was delisted and became a wholly owned subsidiary of China Mobile. The company later changed its legal name to China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited in December 2008 while retaining the consumer-facing PEOPLES brand for a period. CMHK has developed from a mobile voice operator into a broader connectivity provider. Its network portfolio has included GSM-based GPRS and EDGE services, 3G HSPA, 4G LTE using both LTE FDD and TD-LTE technologies, and 4.5G services. In December 2012, CMHK introduced a TD-LTE and LTE FDD fusion network for roaming, described in reference material as the first network of its kind globally. The operator has also promoted cross-border mobile services for customers moving between Hong Kong, Mainland China and other international destinations, benefiting from its relationship with the China Mobile group. The company expanded into fixed connectivity in 2017 by launching home broadband with three selectable internet-speed plans. Its corporate identity was refreshed in December 2013 with the introduction of the CMHK corporate brand and the commercial brand “and!”. These changes accompanied the company’s broader positioning as an integrated communications provider rather than solely a traditional mobile operator. Reference material identifies CMHK as Hong Kong’s largest telecommunications operator and reported 8.274 million subscribers as of June 2017. Its service evolution has continued through the retirement of older network technologies: 3G service was scheduled to cease from June 2025, while 2G service was scheduled to cease at midnight on 23 June 2026 so that resources could be concentrated on newer technologies such as 4G and 5G. CMHK’s principal business scope therefore covers mobile communications, mobile data, international and cross-border connectivity, and residential broadband within the Hong Kong market.

CMHK’s history begins with the establishment of PEOPLES Telephone Company Limited in Hong Kong in June 1994. The company obtained a PCS licence in September 1996 and subsequently developed one of Hong Kong’s early PCS mobile operations. Reference material separately identifies January 1997 as the company’s inception, so the historical record distinguishes between the formation of the predecessor entity and the later commencement or consolidation of its operating business. In May 2000, the operator became the first in Hong Kong to introduce an open-portal Wireless Application Protocol service, extending its role beyond basic voice communications into early mobile internet access. The company’s ownership and legal identity changed during the following decade. In February 2004, PEOPLES Telephone Company Limited was renamed China Resources Peoples Telephone Company Limited, reflecting its association with China Resources. China Mobile acquired the business in October 2005. The operator adopted the name China Mobile Peoples Telephone Company Limited in April 2006, and in March of that year it was delisted and converted into a wholly owned subsidiary of China Mobile. In December 2008, it changed its legal name again to China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited, while continuing to use the PEOPLES name as a commercial brand for a period. CMHK’s technology development followed the wider transition of Hong Kong telecommunications from legacy mobile standards to broadband mobile networks. Its service portfolio has included GPRS and EDGE, 3G HSPA, and 4G LTE based on both LTE FDD and TD-LTE. In December 2012, the operator introduced a TD-LTE/LTE FDD fusion network for roaming. The initiative was significant because it combined two LTE technology variants to support roaming requirements and was described in reference material as the first network of its kind worldwide. The company has also used its China Mobile ownership to develop services for customers travelling between Hong Kong, Mainland China and other international destinations. These cross-border offerings form an important part of CMHK’s market identity, linking a Hong Kong operator with the wider China Mobile network and customer base. In December 2013, the company launched a refreshed corporate brand, CMHK, together with the commercial brand “and!”. This branding marked a clearer presentation of the business as a modern communications provider. CMHK broadened its scope again in 2017 by entering home broadband with three speed-based plan options. Reference material reported 8.274 million subscribers as of June 2017 and identified the operator as Hong Kong’s largest mobile network operator at that time. The company’s later network strategy has focused on retiring older generations and reallocating resources to newer systems. Its 3G service ceased from June 2025, and its 2G network was scheduled to cease at midnight on 23 June 2026. These changes reflect the continuing shift toward 4G and 5G services, although the available reference material does not provide a complete account of CMHK’s current network footprint, subscriber base, financial performance or executive leadership.

1. 20262G service scheduled to cease

   CMHK scheduled the end of 2G service for 23 June 2026 to focus resources on newer network technologies.

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2. 20253G service ceased

   Reference material states that CMHK discontinued 3G network service from June 2025.

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3. 2017Home broadband service launched

   CMHK expanded into residential broadband with three selectable speed plans.

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4. 2013CMHK and “and!” brands introduced

   The operator launched CMHK as its corporate brand and “and!” as its commercial brand.

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5. 2012TD-LTE and LTE FDD fusion network launched

   CMHK introduced a combined TD-LTE/LTE FDD network for roaming.

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6. 2008Adopted the China Mobile Hong Kong name

   The company changed its legal name to China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited in December 2008.

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7. 2006Became a wholly owned China Mobile subsidiary

   The company adopted the China Mobile Peoples Telephone name in April and was delisted in March before becoming fully owned by China Mobile.

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8. 2005Acquired by China Mobile

   China Mobile acquired the company in October 2005.

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9. 2004Renamed China Resources Peoples Telephone Company Limited

   The company changed its name in February 2004 following its association with China Resources.

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10. 2000Open-portal WAP service launched

    CMHK became the first operator in Hong Kong to launch an open-portal WAP service.

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11. 1996PCS licence awarded

    The company received a personal communications services licence in September 1996.

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12. 1994PEOPLES Telephone Company Limited was established

    The predecessor company was established in Hong Kong in June 1994.

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A China Mobile-backed Hong Kong connectivity provider combining mobile communications, data, cross-border services and home broadband. Its group affiliation supports connectivity between Hong Kong and Mainland China, while its network strategy emphasizes migration from legacy technologies toward 4G and 5G.

• Mobile network servicesMobile telecommunications

  CMHK provides mobile communications and data services in Hong Kong. Its historical network portfolio has included GPRS, EDGE, 3G HSPA, 4G LTE using LTE FDD and TD-LTE, and 4.5G services. The operator has been transitioning away from legacy generations toward 4G and 5G connectivity.

• Cross-border mobile servicesRoaming and international connectivity

  These services support customers travelling between Hong Kong, Mainland China and other international destinations. They reflect CMHK’s integration with China Mobile’s broader network and are intended to provide mobile connectivity across jurisdictions.

• Home broadbandResidential broadband2017

  CMHK entered the residential broadband market in 2017 with three plans differentiated by internet speed. The service expanded the company’s offering from mobile communications into fixed household connectivity.

• 2026Scheduled retirement of 2G serviceGeneration change

  CMHK planned to concentrate resources on leading network technologies, including 4G and 5G.

  What changed. The company scheduled the cessation of 2G mobile service for 12:00 a.m. on 23 June 2026.

  Aftermath. The scheduled shutdown would complete a major phase of the operator’s transition away from legacy mobile networks.

  Source
• 2025Retirement of 3G serviceGeneration change

  Mobile operators are reallocating network resources from older generations to newer broadband technologies.

  What changed. CMHK ceased 3G network service from June 2025.

  Aftermath. The move accelerated the company’s migration toward newer mobile network technologies.

  Source
• 2017Entry into residential home broadbandProduct launch

  CMHK sought to expand its communications portfolio beyond mobile network services.

  What changed. The company launched home broadband with three internet-speed plan options.

  Aftermath. Home broadband became an additional service category alongside mobile and cross-border connectivity.

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• 2013Corporate brand refreshStrategy

  CMHK was broadening its identity beyond a legacy mobile operator brand.

  What changed. The company introduced CMHK as its corporate brand and “and!” as its commercial brand.

  Aftermath. The refreshed identity presented the business as a broader communications provider while the earlier PEOPLES brand remained part of its historical commercial identity.

  Source
• 2012Launch of a TD-LTE/LTE FDD fusion roaming networkProduct launch

  Roaming customers required compatibility across different LTE technology variants.

  What changed. CMHK introduced a network combining TD-LTE and LTE FDD capabilities for roaming.

  Aftermath. The launch was described in reference material as the first network of its kind globally and reinforced CMHK’s technology-led positioning.

  Source

• 2026CMHK scheduled the retirement of its 2G network

  CMHK scheduled the end of 2G mobile service for 12:00 a.m. on 23 June 2026, with resources intended to support newer network technologies including 4G and 5G.

  Product generation
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• 2025CMHK ceased 3G network service

  Reference material states that CMHK ceased operating its 3G network from June 2025 as part of its transition toward newer mobile technologies.

  Product generation
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• 2017CMHK entered the home broadband market

  CMHK introduced residential broadband service with three internet-speed plan choices.

  Product launch
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• 2017CMHK reported 8.274 million subscribers

  Reference material reported that CMHK had 8.274 million subscribers as of June 2017 and described it as Hong Kong’s largest mobile network operator.

  Other
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• 2013CMHK launched a new corporate and commercial brand identity

  The company introduced CMHK as its corporate brand and “and!” as a commercial brand.

  CampaignOther
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• 2012CMHK introduced a TD-LTE and LTE FDD fusion network for roaming

  CMHK launched a combined TD-LTE and LTE FDD network for roaming, an initiative described in reference material as a global first.

  Product launchProduct generation
  Source

1. CMHK
2. China Mobile Hong Kong official website