******************************************************
The installation of more than 5,000 Wi-Fi hotspots at around 3,000 locations in the territory, made Hong Kong a world leader in the provision of public Wi-Fi service, according to the latest statistics published today (October 12) by the Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA).
"We are pleased to see such a rapid and massive rollout of public Wi-Fi service," a spokesman for OFTA said. "Unlike other cities, where the public Wi-Fi service involves either public funding or co-ordination by governments, Hong Kong's service is entirely funded by the commercial sector. This testifies again the success of our market-driven policy. We look forward to this as one of the many initiatives to be taken forward by the commercial operators to further drive the development of Hong Kong as a wireless city."
So the public can have updated information about the development and coverage of the public Wi-Fi service in Hong Kong, OFTA will regularly publish statistics on the number of Wi-Fi hotspots and also their locations on its official website.
"Due to the expansion of public Wi-Fi service throughout the territory provided by the service operators and the Government's commitments to provide Wi-Fi service in some 350 government premises in the coming two years, there is growing concern about the radiofrequency (RF) radiation safety to the general public.
"Even though Wi-Fi devices emit very low level of RF radiation, OFTA took the initiative to conduct the first territory-wide measurement of the RF radiation emitted by Wi-Fi hotspots from July to September this year," the spokesman said.
OFTA adopts the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection Guidelines published in 1998 on the safety limits of exposure to RF radiation for the protection of workers and the public against non-ionising radiation hazards, which were set out in a Code of Practice for compliance by the industry. According to OFTA's measurement results, the RF radiation levels of Wi-Fi hotspots installed at various public locations, including convenience shops, cafes, shopping malls, the airport, MTRC and KCRC stations, were far below the recommended RF exposure limits laid down in the guidelines.
According to the World Health Organisation, there is no convincing scientific evidence to prove that the weak RF signals emitted by wireless networks would have an adverse effect on health.
"OFTA will continue to conduct similar measurement on Wi-Fi hotspots as the situation may warrant," the spokesman said.
There is also increasing public concern about the security of information passing through public Wi-Fi networks. OFTA today published a set of security guidelines for public Wi-Fi service operators to follow. The guidelines are developed jointly with the industry and the relevant professional bodies.
"The successful implementation of the security measures will require the awareness and participation of the users," the spokesman said. OFTA will co-ordinate with the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) and the industry to promote awareness of the relevant issues and to educate the users how they may make the best use of the public Wi-Fi service and be confident that information passing through the networks will be handled in a secure manner.
The relevant information and publications - the RF measurement report, the guidelines on security for public Wi-Fi service and the Wi-Fi hotspots statistics - can be downloaded from OFTA's website (www.ofta.gov.hk).
Background
The Government's vision is to make broadband Internet access available to everyone in Hong Kong, regardless of whether they are at home or on the move using mobile facilities. To facilitate the fast and cost-effective provision of Wi-Fi service in public areas, the Government has made available government properties and facilities in public streets (such as lamp posts and telephone kiosks) at nominal rental to the authorised service providers.
OFTA will continue to remove regulatory barriers and to facilitate the deployment of wireless communications services, including the public Wi-Fi service, to develop Hong Kong into an advanced wireless city.
Ends/Friday, October 12, 2007
Issued at HKT 19:38
NNNN
