OFTA proposes freeing PCCW from remaining ex ante tariff regulation

On 4 December the Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA) issued a consultation paper to solicit public views on proposals to remove the remaining ex ante tariff regulation on certain local fixed network interconnection services provided by Hong Kong’s former monopoly telco PCCW. ‘Ex ante’ implies that changes by the telco require pre-approval by the regulator. In July 2009, PCCW made a request to the TA to carry out a review on the specific licence conditions and applied for their removal from its fixed line operating concession.