Hong Kong Broadband Network

Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited
Internet Service Provider
Industry Telecom
Founder Ricky Wong Wai-kay
Headquarters Hong Kong
Key people
 William Yeung (CEO)
Products Fibre broadband, Wi-Fi, Telephone, enterprise solutions, data center, roaming data SIM, IDD, MusicOne
Revenue HKD 2.34 billion (FY2014-15)
HKD 0.36 billion (FY2014-15)
Number of employees
 over 2,900
Parent HKBN Ltd
Website www.hkbn.net

Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited (HKBN; Chinese: 香港寬頻網絡) (SEHK: 1310), a Hong Kong-based ISP 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 CTI Telecom (HK) Limited (CTI) for HK$4.9 billion, according to its listing documents.[5]

In 2016, HKBN acquired the telecommunications and online marketing business of New World Telecommunications Limited for HK$650 million; the merger was completed on March 31.[6][7]

Abuse of Personal Data

HKBN is the first company in Hong Kong to be convicted under section 35G of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (PDPO) 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.[8]

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.[9][10]

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.[11][12]

History

Founding and initial growth

HKBN was founded in 1999 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 100Mbps to 1000Mbps.[13]

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 Hong Kong Telecom (HKT; Chinese: 香港電訊有限公司) (SEHK: 6823) .[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 (OFTA; Chinese: 電訊管理局) , 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 Company Limited (CMHK), HKBN launched mobile services of Greater China 4G plans for corporate consumers.[16]

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 $750m in HKBN IPO, AVCJ
  6. ↑ Morrow, Richard (2016-02-19). "HKBN buys New World telecom". FinanceAsia. Retrieved 2017-02-02.
  7. ↑ "Hong Kong Broadband Network eyes mergers and acquisitions". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2017-02-02.
  8. ↑ "Hong Kong Broadband Network fined for unauthorised promotions disguised as reminder". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2017-02-06.
  9. ↑ "Media Statements | A Telecommunications Service Provider Convicted of an Offence under the New Direct Marketing Regulatory Regime". Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Hong Kong. Retrieved 2017-02-06.
  10. ↑ "HWB | Law Alert - First convictions under Hong Kong's direct marketing regime". Howse Williams Bowers. Retrieved 2017-02-06.
  11. ↑ Chan, Kahon (2015-09-09). "Data abuse: Service provider fined HK$ 30,000". China Daily Asia. Retrieved 2017-02-06.
  12. ↑ "HKBN fined HK$30,000 for breaking personal data law". EJ Insight. 2015-09-10. Retrieved 2017-02-06.
  13. ↑ "HKBN introduces triple-play package". www.telecompaper.com. Retrieved 2017-02-02.
  14. ↑ "HKBN clicks fund platform". The Standard. Retrieved 2017-02-02.
  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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