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Hong Kong Broadband Network

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Matthew hk (talk | contribs) at 21:06, 27 February 2018 (→‎Founding and initial growth: City Telecom (Hong Kong)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

HKBN
Hong Kong Broadband Network
Native name
香港寬頻有限公司
Company typepublic
SEHK: 1310
ISINKYG451581055 Edit this on Wikidata
IndustrieTelekommunikation
GründerRicky Wong Wai-kay
HauptsitzHongkong
Key people
William Yeung (CEO)
ServicesInternet service provider
RevenueHKD 2.34 billion (FY2014-15)
HKD 0.36 billion (FY2014-15)
Number of employees
over 2,900
Websitewww.hkbn.net

HKBN Limited (Chinese: 香港寬頻有限公司) commonly known for its subsidiary Hong Kong Broadband Network (Chinese: 香港寬頻網絡), is a Hong Kong-based telecommunication company. It was established in 1999, is one of the largest residential broadband and telecommunications service providers in Hong Kong.[1] HKBN operates in both Hong Kong and Guangzhou, and employs about 2,900 personnel.[2]

In January 2016, HKBN held a 37.7% market share of residential broadband subscriptions and a 15.4% share of the enterprise market in Hong Kong.[3][4]

In May 2012, Private equity firm CVC Capital Partners (a unit of Carlyle Group), acquired 100% of HKBN from City Telecom (Hong Kong) for HK$4.9 billion, according to its listing documents.[5] City Telecom (Hong Kong) was then renamed into Hong Kong Television Network.

In 2016, HKBN acquired the telecommunications and online marketing business of New World Telecommunications for HK$650 million; the merger was completed on March 31.[6][7] New World Telecommunications (NWT) was mainly active in the market of providing telephone phone to business customers; after the acquisition NWT was renamed to HKBN Enterprise Solutions .

History

Founding and initial growth

HKBN was founded in 1999 as an unit of City Telecom (Hong Kong) by Ricky Wong Wai-kay as the first operator to launch "triple-play" (Internet broadband, telephony, IP-TV services) on single network in Hong Kong, as well as the first service provider of residential broadband, with speed ranged from 100Mbit/s to 1000Mbit/s.[8]

As of 2014, HKBN owned 692,000 residential broadband subscribers and 32,000 enterprise subscribers, made HKBN the second largest telecommunications operator in Hong Kong after HKT .[9]

Violation of the use on personal data

HKBN is the first company in Hong Kong to be convicted under section 35G of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance by the Magistrates' Court since the law amendment in 2013, which states that it is a criminal offence to fail to comply with a requirement from a data subject to cease to use their personal data in direct marketing.[10]

HKBN's conviction relates to a customer complaint in April 2013; the customer had made an opt-out request to HKBN via both email and post and HKBN subsequently acknowledged receipt of the request in writing. However, the customer still received a voice message through their mobile phone in May 2013, informing the complainant of the termination of their service contract as well as to promote other services of HKBN.[11][12]

HKBN pleaded not guilty since the call was merely a service renewal "reminder", however Magistrate Debbie Ng Chung-yee ruled that HKBN used the contract's expiry as an excuse to pitch new services, as promotions of new contracts has not been included in the service scope agreed to by subscribers. HKBN was fined HK$30,000 in September 2015.[13][14]

Expands to mobile broadband

In July 2016, HKBN has secured the Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) license from the Office of the Telecommunications Authority , as Hong Kong's 26th MVNO, to offer mobile services using its infrastructure of established mobile network operators.[15] Partnering with China Mobile (Hong Kong), HKBN launched mobile services of Greater China 4G plans for corporate consumers.[16]

Subsidiary

HKBN Enterprise Solutions

After New World Telecommunications was acquired, it was renamed to HKBN Enterprise Solutions.

See also

References

  1. ^ Company Website-Co-Ownership
  2. ^ Company Website-Talent Culture
  3. ^ Interim result 2016 of HKBN
  4. ^ Company Website--About Us
  5. ^ CVC, others to raise up to $750m in HKBN IPO, AVCJ
  6. ^ Morrow, Richard (2016-02-19). "HKBN buys New World telecom". FinanceAsia. Retrieved 2017-02-02.
  7. ^ "Hong Kong Broadband Network eyes mergers and acquisitions". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2017-02-02.
  8. ^ "HKBN introduces triple-play package". www.telecompaper.com. Retrieved 2017-02-02.
  9. ^ "HKBN clicks fund platform". The Standard. Sing Tao News Corporation. 19 January 2015. Retrieved 2017-02-02.
  10. ^ "Hong Kong Broadband Network fined for unauthorised promotions disguised as reminder". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2017-02-06.
  11. ^ "Media Statements | A Telecommunications Service Provider Convicted of an Offence under the New Direct Marketing Regulatory Regime". Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Hong Kong. Retrieved 2017-02-06. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  12. ^ "HWB | Law Alert - First convictions under Hong Kong's direct marketing regime". Howse Williams Bowers. Retrieved 2017-02-06. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  13. ^ Chan, Kahon (2015-09-09). "Data abuse: Service provider fined HK$ 30,000". China Daily Asia. Retrieved 2017-02-06. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  14. ^ "HKBN fined HK$30,000 for breaking personal data law". EJ Insight. 2015-09-10. Retrieved 2017-02-06.
  15. ^ "HKBN plans shake-up of telecoms market with launch of bundled fixed-line broadband and mobile package". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2017-02-02.
  16. ^ "HKBN Mobile launches Greater China 4G business plans | Computerworld Hong Kong". Computerworld Hong Kong. Retrieved 2017-02-02.
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