Hong Kong is boosting its wireless broadband services with an invitation for applications for bidding on its new radio spectrum services.

Hong Kong's Office of the Telecommunications Authority is inviting applications for Hong Kong's Broadband Wireless Access licenses. The OFTA's just-released memorandum sets out the minimum spectrum utilization fees for the BWA spectrum auction, the auction rules and various other elements of the licensing framework. OFTA will conduct an industry briefing for the auction on October 27, 2008 and accept bidding applications December 15-16, 2008.

"To maintain Hong Kong as a leading wireless city, the government has decided to release radio spectrum in the 2.3 GHz and 2.5 GHz bands for the provision of BWA services. The deployment of the technologies will enable the public to enjoy advanced high-speed wireless fixed and mobile services," an OFTA spokesperson stated.

The available radio spectrum of 195MHz is divided into 12 frequency bands, each with a bandwidth varying from 5 MHz to 30MHz, for bidding in the auction to be held in January 2009. Both new entrants and incumbent licensees can take part in the auction. Each of the bidders may bid for any combination of frequency bands, subject to a spectrum cap of 30 MHz. This will be the first time that the spectrum auction is conducted on an Internet-based software platform. With the use of a simultaneous multiple round ascending auction format, all the 12 frequency bands will be auctioned simultaneously over multiple rounds.