![HKBNWongTaiSin](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/HKBNWongTaiSin.jpg)
HKBN Ltd., commonly known for its subsidiary Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited (), is a Hong Kong-based Internet, communication and telecommunication company. HKBN was established on 23 August 1999, it is one of the largest residential and enterprise internet, communication and telecommunications service providers in Hong Kong.
Originally a subsidiary of
City Telecom, HKBN became an independent company in 2014. In February 2019, HKBN held a 35.8% market share of residential broadband subscriptions and a 19.4% share of the enterprise market in Hong Kong.
History
Founding and initial growth
Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited was founded on 23 August 1999 as a unit of
City Telecom 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.
As of February 2019, HKBN has 864,000 residential broadband subscribers and 58,000 enterprise subscribers, made HKBN the second largest telecommunications operator in Hong Kong after
HKT.
HKBN Group became a listed company on 12 March 2015 under a new
Cayman Islands-incorporated holding company HKBN Ltd.; Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited was under listed company City Telecom (or known as CTI) until CTI sold Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited. In May 2012, private equity firm
CVC Capital Partners, acquired the company for HK$4.9 billion. City Telecom (Hong Kong) was then renamed into
Hong Kong Television Network
Hong Kong Technology Venture Company Limited (HKTV, ) is a Hong Kong-based technology company primarily known for its e-commerce platform and once had plans to become a television station. HKTV currently provides an over-the-top shopping and ...
. The current holding company of the group, HKBN Ltd., was incorporated on 26 November 2014.
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
A magistrates' court is a lower court where, in several jurisdictions, all criminal proceedings start. Also some civil matters may be dealt with here, such as family proceedings.
Courts
* Magistrates' court (England and Wales)
* Magistrate's Cou ...
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.
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.
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.
Expands to mobile broadband
In July 2016, HKBN has secured the Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) license from the
Office of the Telecommunications Authority
The Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) is an executive arm of the Communications Authority in Hong Kong. It is the body responsible for telecommunications regulation (through the Regulatory Affairs Branch), antitrust enforcement (thro ...
, as Hong Kong's 26th MVNO, to offer mobile services using its infrastructure of established mobile network operators. Partnering with SmarTone and
China Mobile (Hong Kong), HKBN launched mobile services plans for personal and corporate consumers.
Subsidiary
HKBN Enterprise Solutions
In 2016, HKBN acquired the telecommunications and online marketing business of
New World Telecommunications
New World Telecommunications Limited (abb. NWT) also known as New World Telecom, was a fixed line provider of Hong Kong S.A.R., China. It was a subsidiary of New World Development, via New World Telephone Holdings; New World Telecommunications w ...
(NWT) for HK$650 million; the merger was completed on 31 March. NWT was mainly active in the market of providing telephone phone to business customers; after the acquisition NWT was renamed to HKBN Enterprise Solutions. In 2019, HKBN acquired
WTT Holding Corp. and renamed the company to HKBN Enterprise Solutions HK Limited.
See also
*
HKBN bbTV
HKBN bbTV is a discontinued Pay TV IPTV service in Hong Kong operated by Hong Kong Broadband Network which was launched in August 2003, and bbTV ceased its service at 1 January 2017.
In September 2017, it is planned to reopen bbTV, but will be c ...
References
External links
*
{{Hong Kong mobile phone companies
Telecommunications companies of Hong Kong
Internet service providers of Hong Kong
Telecommunications companies established in 1999
1999 establishments in Hong Kong
Offshore companies of the Cayman Islands
Companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange