Milestone events in the evolution of Hong Kong's telecommunications industry and in the development of PCCW Limited and its predecessors.
Milestones
December
Viu OTT signs an agreement with Thai content provider Workpoint to strengthen its local content.
November
Pacific Century Premium Developments announces to build a new ski center in Hokkaido, Japan.
October
ViuTV's talent show Good Night Show - King Maker concludes with a finale featuring the top 10 finalists.
September
PCCW Solutions opens intelligent unmanned showcase HABBITZZ+ to demonstrate a seamless online to offline experience.
Viu OTT expands its service footprint to Myanmar.
PCCW Media and beIN SPORTS secure the broadcast rights of UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League from 2018/19 to 2020/21 seasons.
August
PCCW announces financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2018.
July
PCCW Media and beIN SPORTS secure the exclusive broadcast right of LaLiga in Hong Kong for 2018/19 to 2022/23 seasons.
June
Now TV and ViuTV exclusively broadcast 2018 FIFA World Cup.
May
PCCW Media launches Now E one-stop entertainment OTT platform.
PCCW Solutions launches Infinitum™ Visum to empower connected digital lifestyles and enhance customer experience.
April
Viu OTT signs a content deal with GMM Channel to provide premium content for Viu audience in Thailand.
March
PCCW Solutions expands its D-Infinitum data center services in Asia with Japan’s SCSK Corp.
February
Viu OTT strengthens its Korean content offering with JTBC partnership.
PCCW reports financial results for the year ended December 31, 2017.
January
Pacific Century Premium Developments announces redevelopment of Nos. 3-6 Glenealy, Central, with CSI Properties.
December
HKT is title sponsor of the Formula E HKT Hong Kong E-Prix.
PCCW Solutions opens a new office in Singapore to facilitate expansion in Southeast Asia.
PCCW Solutions wins the contract for the Next Generation Electronic Passport System (e-Passport 2).
PCCW receives an award for the highest service hours of volunteer services from the Social Welfare Department.
November
PCCW Solutions' smart parking and charging solution wins Global Telecoms Awards.
Now TV and ViuTV announce exclusive broadcast rights of 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia.
August
PCCW reports financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2017.
Hony Capital, Foxconn Ventures and Temasek invest in PCCW’s OTT international media and entertainment business.
HKT rolls out Hong Kong’s first 1Gbps mobile network as a step forward to 5G.
HKT opens concept store “io.t by HKT” showcasing Internet of Things related products and services.
July
NETVIGATOR launches 4x1000M Multi-Use Broadband Service.
June
PCCW Solutions is selected as No.1 service provider of Data Center Hosting Services, System Integration and Application Development in Hong Kong by IDC Asia/Pacific.
May
Viu OTT video service expands its footprint to Thailand.
HKT wins the Gold Award in the media and communications sector of the Hong Kong Awards for Environmental Excellence (HKAEE) 2016.
April
Now TV and PCCW Global deliver live broadcast of the Hong Kong Sevens in 360 virtual reality.
Viu OTT video service launches Viu Original productions.
PCCW Solutions wins a contract for the Next Generation Smart Identity Card System ("SMARTICS-2") in Hong Kong.
March
ViuTV launches its English channel ViuTVsix channel 96.
February
PCCW announces the disposal of UK Broadband to unlock the value of the UK business. The transaction was completed in May.
January
PCCW reports financial results for the year ended December 31, 2016.
November
PCCW Solutions expands its headquarters office in Hong Kong.
Viu OTT has achieved 4 million users in its first year of launch.
August
HKT has formed a joint venture, Smart Charge (HK) Limited, with CLP Holdings Limited to offer electric vehicle charging solutions.
May
HKT is named Best Asian Telecoms Carrier and Best Broadband Carrier at Telecom Asia Awards 2016.
April
HK Television Entertainment Company Limited launches free TV service ViuTV (Channel 99) in Hong Kong.
January
Viu OTT service expands in Asia with the launch in Singapore. The service later expands its footprint to Malaysia, India, Indonesia and the Philippines.
December
A physical card for HKT’s Tap & Go is made available so more Hong Kong mobile users can enjoy the service.
November
PCCW Solutions announces acquisition of Internet Data Center (IDC) and Internet Service Provider (ISP) licenses in Guangdong, China.
September
Pacific Century Premium Developments (PCPD) has signed an agreement with Citibank for leasing over five floors of PCPD’s Premium Grade A office building in Jakarta, Indonesia.
July
HKT introduces mobile payment service Tap & Go via an all-in-one SIM card for NFC (Near Field Communication) Android phone users.
The Government announces to allocate broadcast frequency spectrum to HKTVE for providing its free TV service.
April
HK Television Entertainment Company Limited (HKTVE) is formally granted a free TV license.
HKT demonstrates the world’s first LTE-A 450Mbps solution.
December
now TV achieves the highest rating of news and finance TV programs among four local TV stations in a survey conducted by The University of Hong Kong.
HKT becomes Hong Kong’s first mobile operator to upgrade its mobile network to 4G LTE-Advanced at 300Mbps.
September
PCCW Solutions launches iVisionBanking solution, a next-generation core banking and finance solution.
May
HKT completes the acquisition of CSL New World Mobility Limited. HKT has become the largest mobile service operator in Hong Kong.
December
HKT enters into an agreement to acquire the entire share capital of CSL New World Mobility Limited from Telstra Corporation and New World Development.
October
HKT cooperates with Octopus Cards to launch Hong Kong’s first mobile phone SIM card with Octopus payment functions.
Group subsidiary HKTVE is granted a license in principle to provide free television program service in Hong Kong.
June
HKT leads the local mobile market with the rollout of SIM-based NFC (Near Field Communication) mobile payment service with Hang Seng Bank.
January
HKT completes its 4G LTE network with 1000Mbps optical fibers along major MTR lines.
December
now TV enters into an agreement with Cable Thai Holding Public Company Limited to distribute three channels on the latter's pay-tv platform
PCCW receives an award for high service hours of volunteer services from the Social Welfare Department.
June
PCCW Solutions introduces, Enterprise Solutions Superstore Alliance, a cloud platform where enterprises can obtain applications from independent software vendors.
now TV broadcasts the UEFA EURO 2012 exclusively in Hong Kong.
November
PCCW spins off HKT for a separate listing on the Hong Kong stock exchange. PCCW still holds a majority interest in HKT.
Mr. George Chan is appointed an Executive Director and the Group Managing Director of PCCW.
July
now TV obtains the exclusive Hong Kong media rights to all 31 matches of UEFA EURO 2012.
May
PCCW Solutions wins a contract to provide the Middle South Regional Air Traffic Management Bureau of Civil Aviation Administration of China with a Control Tower Simulator (CTS) solution.
October
now TV brings Hong Kong viewers comprehensive NBA coverage, with exclusive pay-TV rights from 2011/12.
August
Placement of 500 million new shares of PCCW Limited, or about 6.88% of the enlarged share capital, increases the equity base of the Company and expands its institutional shareholder base.
July
PCCW becomes the Official Integrated Telecom Partner of Manchester United F.C., with exclusive broadcasting rights to MUTV contents in Hong Kong for three years.
June
The number of PCCW Wi-Fi hotspots has jumped by 50% in two years to 7,500.
April
The Court of First Instance of the High Court of Hong Kong sanctions the privatization proposal of PCCW. The judgment is later overturned by the Court of Appeal.
January
PCCW makes a successful bid for a 4G license in partnership with another operator.
December
Launch of now TV's self-produced Cantonese infotainment channel, now Hong Kong.
November
PCCW’s telecoms services, media and IT solutions businesses are grouped under a newly incorporated company, HKT Group Holdings Limited, in a corporate reorganization.
A proposal is received from PCCW’s two major shareholders to privatize the Company.
August
PCCW Global partners with China Netcom to provide high-definition programming to TVB during the Olympic Games, including the equestrian events in Hong Kong.
January
PCCW Solutions wins a contract to design and build an electronic passport system for the Macau SAR Government.
August
Hong Kong's first high-definition TV programming launched on now TV.
NETVIGATOR Everywhere launched, providing a unique wireless broadband solution that automatically detects and selects the best connectivity between PCCW's Wi-Fi, HSDPA and 3G capabilities, making PCCW the first in Hong Kong to integrate Wi-Fi and mobile networks.
March
The SUNDAY service integrated into the PCCW mobile brand.
Launch of PCCW's self-produced now SPORTS channels, which own the exclusive Hong Kong rights to broadcast live the Barclays Premier League for 2007 - 2010.
MTR Corporation Limited awards PCCW Solutions is awarded an applications development outsourcing contract to develop and deploy a Maintenance Management Information System for its railway projects in mainland China.
December
PCCW is the official mobile service sponsor at ITU TELECOM WORLD 2006 in Hong Kong. 62,000 international visitors attend this important event of the International Telecommunication Union, held outside Geneva for the first time.
May
PCCW mobile launches the world's first mobile TV service using Cell Multimedia Broadcast technology to take real-time TV broadcasts to 3G handsets.
March
PCCW's self-produced now Business News Channel goes on air, providing 24-hour coverage of local and international financial news.
January
IT division PCCW Solutions (then known as Unihub) wins a 10-year contract to produce a state-of-the-art electronic passport system for the HKSAR Government.
October
PCCW Global launched to pursue emerging opportunities in integrated global communications solutions.
June
PCCW returns to the mobile business with the acquisition of a controlling stake in SUNDAY Communications Ltd.
January
PCCW and China Network Communications Group Corporation (China Netcom) announce a strategic alliance to develop business in mainland China and globally.
May
PCCW organizes its property business into Pacific Century Premium Developments Limited, a subsidiary company.
UK Broadband, a wholly-owned subsidiary of PCCW, launches its wireless broadband service in the UK.
January
Third Generation (3G) mobile service introduced to Hong Kong, leading to a new era in mobile data and video connectivity.
September
PCCW launches now TV.
January
Local fixed telecom-network services (FTNS) market fully opened up to competition from January 1, signifying the full liberalization of Hong Kong’s telecoms market.
November
PCCW establishes a wholly-owned subsidiary, CASCADE Ltd., which supports PCCW’s telecoms network. With 3,000 highly trained staff, CASCADE is one of Asia's leading technical services companies.
June
PCCW completes sale of mobile service provider CSL to Telstra.
February
A PCCW-led consortium wins a government contract to develop hardware, software and services for Hong Kong’s Smart Identity Card System.
PCCW completes alliance with Telstra to establish REACH, a 50-50 joint venture that offers IP backbone services.
2000 PCCW announces offer for C&W HKT in February. The merger was completed on August 17.
Mobile number portability introduced.
HKT renamed Cable and Wireless Hong Kong Telecom Ltd. (C&W HKT)
Pacific Century Group acquires control of Hong Kong-listed Tricom Holdings Limited, subsequently renamed Pacific Century CyberWorks Limited (PCCW).
HKT agrees to relinquish its international services franchise in return for a balanced compensation package from the HKSAR Government.
China Telecom (Hong Kong) Group Limited becomes HKT's second largest shareholder.
Launch of NETVIGATOR, HKT’s first Internet interactive multimedia service.
HKT's franchise to provide local fixed-line telephone services expires. Three new operators introduced into marketplace.
Hong Kong's local telephone network fully digitized, the first in any major market in the world.
The Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA) established.
Pacific Century Group established.
CITIC becomes the second largest shareholder in HKT.
HKT restructured into four wholly-owned subsidiaries, including Hong Kong Telephone Company Limited and Hong Kong Telecom International Limited, which hold the local telephone franchise and the franchise for international services respectively.
Hong Kong Telecommunications Limited (HKT) formed by merger of HKTC and Cable and Wireless (Hong Kong) Limited, and listed on both the Hong Kong and New York stock exchanges.
Communication Services Limited (CSL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of HKTC, is given the first license to operate mobile services.
Cable and Wireless acquires HKTC.
The government decides to open the customer-premises equipment market, ushering in a new era of competition.
Hong Kong branch of Cable and Wireless becomes a Hong Kong-registered company, changing its name to Cable and Wireless (Hong Kong) Limited. It is granted an exclusive license to provide international services until 2006.
International Direct Dialing (IDD) service introduced to Hong Kong.
1,000,000th telephone line installed in Hong Kong.
HKTC’s franchise extended to 1995.
Telex service introduced to Hong Kong.
Telephone service extended to the New Territories.
International leased circuits introduced.
Cable and Wireless Limited formed.
Telephone service extended to Canton.
China and Japan Telephone and Electric Co. Ltd. acquired by Hong Kong Telephone Company Ltd. (HKTC), which is granted a 50-year exclusive license to provide domestic telephone services.
Telephone service extended to Kowloon.
Public telephone services introduced by Oriental Telephone and Electric Co. Ltd., which is later renamed China and Japan Telephone and Electric Co. Ltd.
Telephone introduced to Hong Kong Island.
Founding of the Eastern Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Co. Ltd., forerunner of Cable and Wireless.
First British submarine telegraph cable laid between Hong Kong and Singapore.
