3 HK wins permit for 26-GHz, 28-GHz 5G trials

Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings’ mobile division 3 Hong Kong has secured a temporary permit to conduct 5G new radio trials.

Hong Kong’s Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) has granted 3 Hong Kong permission to conduct network trials using 26-GHz and 28-GHz millimeter wave spectrum, the operator said.

The permit will allow 3 Hong Kong to possess, establish, maintain and use transmitting and receiving stations for indoor and outdoor 5G trials, which are expected to commence in the third quarter.

The operator successfully applied for a 5G indoor test permit for the 3.5-GHz band last August and completed a number of tests over the remainder of the year.

“3 Hong Kong is determined to launch a 5G service at the earliest opportunity, after 5G spectrum specifications and standards have been finalized,” the company said.

OFCA has previously announced plans to ensure Hong Kong is one of the earliest adopters of 5G technology by setting the regulatory groundwork for commercial services to be launched in 2020.

In March, 3 Hong Kong activated Hong Kong’s first five-carrier aggregation (5CC CA) LTE-Advanced services, using its 900-MHz, 1800-MHz, 2100-MHz, 2300-MHz and 2600-MHz spectrum. During network trials, the company achieved speeds of 1.1Gbps over the network.