• Bestcoverage –
  • provides 99% 3G coverage at populated areas with over 1,300 radio stations
    
  • covers most shopping centres and hotels with indoor radio stations at over 220 dedicated locations
    
  • world's highest 3G indoor site density

• Best in mobile data speed - up to 10 times faster than GPRS/EDGE in Hong Kong
  
• Best mobile video streaming quality in Hong Kong
  
• World's firstto pioneer 3G coverage in subways and elevators
  
• Asia's first to offer video IDD and 3G roaming services to Japan
  
• Territory-first cross generation multi-network centralised control

3 Hong Kong today demonstrated its superior 3G network which is ranked among the world's topmost 3G networks. As the first and only 3G network in Hong Kong, 3 has stayed ahead with its unrivalled network coverage, data speed, video streaming quality, roaming and network management to provide 3 users with the best-level of 3G video mobile services.

At a presentation, Mr Cliff Woo, Deputy Managing Director and Wireless Networks Director of Hutchison Telecom, introduced the leading edges of 3 network, "Since 1999, we have devoted ample resources and efforts in the implementation of 3G in Hong Kong. With a track record of network excellence and our technical expertise, we have successfully established a world-class 3G network to provide superb territory coverage, full video and voice connectivity locally and internationally, fastest data speed and comprehensive roaming capability. We are proud to have set many shining records in the local 3G development, as well as being one of the leading 3G players in the global mobile market."

Best 3G coverage
3 Hong Kong now provides 99% 3G network coverage at populated areas with over 1,300 radio stations (980 outdoor and 320 indoor), which is the world's largest number of 3G radio stations in any single metropolitan city. Its superb indoor coverage has extended to most shopping centres and hotels with indoor radio stations at over 220 dedicated locations, major department stores and restaurants, major office buildings, airport and HKCEC, karaoke and entertainment spots, all public and private housing estates and even lifts in selected buildings, allowing customers to enjoy complete 3G coverage in both outdoor and indoor areas across the territory.

Best mobile data speed in Hong Kong
3 Hong Kong adopts the most advanced UMTS mobile radio technology which is more resilient to interference, offering a data speed of about 360 kbps, which is up to ten times faster than GPRS/EDGE services in Hong Kong.

Best video streaming quality
With the highest mobile data speed in Hong Kong, 3 network can provide the best video streaming quality. The video content it delivers are encoded at bit rate of over 100kbps in advanced 3GPP MPEG4 format to enable smooth and vivid streaming which can hardly be rivalled by current 2.5G technology. 3 Hong Kong's advanced streaming architecture also realises virtual home environment vision for real time information such as live streaming of traffic condition.

World's first to pioneer 3G coverage in subways and elevators
3 Hong Kong pioneers to extend its network horizon to cover subways and elevators. It is also the first local 3G operator committed to providing 3G full coverage for the whole MTR and Airport Express, in addition to its current full 2G/2.5G coverage in all MTR stations. 3 Hong Kong is the first to introduce 3G to 2G handover technology in the MTR stations.

As the first to pioneer 3G coverage in elevators, 3's superb network coverage is now extended to over 300 lifts cars of major commercial buildings.

Asia's first to offer video IDD and 3G roaming services to Japan
3 Hong Kong is the first in Asia to launch video IDD service to Japan, enabling its Hong Kong customers to make video calls to FOMA users in Japan. In April 2004, 3 further rolled out automatic voice roaming service to Japan. Currently, 3's video roaming services cover all 3 countries including Austria, Australia, Denmark, Italy, Sweden and the UK. 3's voice roaming coverage is equivalent to 2G, covering over 280 networks in 170 regions and destinations. 3 Hong Kong is also the first to enable local content browsing while roaming on 3G.

Territory-first cross generation multi-network centralised control
3 has established a world-class Centralized Network Control Centre to manage four mobile networks - 3G, GSM, PCN and CDMA – 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. With a top notch web-based Performance Monitoring System, it manages over 3,000 network nodes, monitors over 100,000 types of network alarms, automatically processes over 5 GB network performance data per day and is capable of generating as latest as the last hour's performance statistics. End user quality can be detected and problems can be figured out as early as possible for immediate solutions. The Centre has also achieved 99.999% network availability since 2003.

Network Optimization
To provide customers with the best level of service, 3 is carrying out non-stop 3G network optimization and has always set new records in the optimization since April 2003:

• conducted 330,000 km drive test
• tested 30,000 handover parameters
• tested 15,000 cell parameters
• handled 500 antenna re-adjustments