Communications Authority grants consent to SmarTone to cease its 3G services
The Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) announced today (July 24) the Communications Authority's (CA) decision to grant prior consent to SmarTone Mobile Communications Limited (SmarTone) for its application to cease the provision of third generation mobile (3G) services on October 9, 2026.
SmarTone, Photo source: reference image
Having considered various relevant factors, the CA approved the application pursuant to Special Condition 10.4 of SmarTone's Unified Carrier Licence. These include the very low proportion of customers affected (including customers who are still using 3G handsets/devices and those using older models of 4G handsets/devices that only support the older version of VoLTE (Note) technology), and SmarTone's provision of support services for the affected customers such as offers to replace handsets/devices. For customers who choose not to replace their handsets/devices and not to continue the service, SmarTone will make reasonable service termination arrangements and provide them with sufficient advance notification and customer service support. Moreover, the CA has required SmarTone to maintain satisfactory 3G services until the scheduled service cessation date.
Affected customers may refer to the relevant press release issued by SmarTone today or contact the company for details of the arrangements.
With the phased shutdown of 3G mobile networks by individual mobile network operators, OFCA takes this opportunity to call on customers of 3G service, and those who are still using 3G handsets/devices and older models of 4G handsets, to upgrade their service plans and handsets/devices. In addition, OFCA encourages members of the public to assist their family and friends, especially the elderly, in upgrading their services in order to experience better service quality and more advanced and diversified features provided by the newer generations of mobile services.
At present, 4G and 5G services are the mainstream mobile services globally, and the 6G era will arrive in a few years. Over 99 per cent of mobile service users in Hong Kong are now enjoying the mobile experience brought by 4G or 5G technologies. To cope with the continued customer demand for more advanced mobile services, mobile network operators' cessation of their 3G services is in line with the global development trend. They can re-deploy the vacated radio spectrum and focus their resources in support of newer generations of mobile technologies.
The Communications Authority, Photo source: reference image
Note: VoLTE, Voice over Long Term Evolution (LTE), is a technology that enables voice calls to be made over a 4G LTE network instead of falling back to 2G or 3G networks.
DPO and PMSA jointly organise seminar on application of "iAM Smart" Personal Code in property management
The Digital Policy Office (DPO) and the Property Management Services Authority (PMSA) yesterday (July 23)jointly organised a Continuing Professional Development Seminar titled "Adoption of 'iAM Smart' Personal Code in the Property Management Industry: New Directions for Digital Transformation and Privacy Compliance". More than 100 property management industry representatives attended on-site while more than 3 400 viewers watched the live broadcast online.
The Chairperson of the PMSA, Dr James Wong, and the Assistant Commissioner (Data Applications) of the DPO, Mr Brian Sun, delivered welcoming remarks for the seminar. The Assistant Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD), Ms Rebecca Ho; Chief Manager (Estate Management) of the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA) Mr Derek Lo; Chief Systems Manager (Data Applications) of the DPO Mr Patrick Lai; as well as a number of industry experts and representatives who had adopted the "iAM Smart" Personal Code attended the seminar and shared their experiences.
Frontline property management personnel are frequently required to carry out visitor registration during their daily operations, which involves collecting and handling a large amount of personal data. In his speech, Mr Sun said that the Government has been actively promoting digital transformation across industries. The "iAM Smart" Personal Code function introduced by the DPO precisely provides an innovative solution that supports identity verification while balancing privacy protection. The "iAM Smart" Personal Code allows citizens to display anonymous personal identity information in the format of a QR code via the "iAM Smart" app, assisting property management enterprises in easily achieving privacy compliance goals.
At present, more than 60 residential estates, government buildings and commercial buildings across the territory have adopted the "iAM Smart" Personal Code to support visitor registration or access control facilities.
During the thematic sharing session, the PCPD introduced the latest privacy compliance guidelines and shared case studies relevant to the property management industry. The HKHA explained recent practical examples of piloting a smart access control system compatible with the "iAM Smart" Personal Code at Tung Wui Estate in Wong Tai Sin and Long Shin Estate in Yuen Long. The DPO introduced how the "iAM Smart" Personal Code could help the property management industry easily achieve privacy compliance goals. In addition, various property management industry experts and representatives shared their practical experiences and the benefits of integrating "iAM Smart" functions into property management workflows, access control facilities and daily operations.
The DPO expressed the hope that the property management industry will continue to innovate, actively embrace digital technology and make good use of the "iAM Smart" functions, and flexibly integrate technology into property management services to jointly build a safer, more convenient and more efficient smart city for Hong Kong residents.
DPO and PMSA jointly organise seminar on application of "iAM Smart" Personal Code in property management Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
DPO and PMSA jointly organise seminar on application of "iAM Smart" Personal Code in property management Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
DPO and PMSA jointly organise seminar on application of "iAM Smart" Personal Code in property management Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
DPO and PMSA jointly organise seminar on application of "iAM Smart" Personal Code in property management Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
