Speech by SCED at 6G Global Summit 2025 (English only)
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Mr Kondo (Secretary General of the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity, Mr Masanori Kondo), Mr Macfarlane (Chief Executive Officer of Forum Global, Mr Bruce Macfarlane), distinguished guests, our friends and partners from the global telecommunications community, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning. It is a great pleasure to welcome you all today at the 6G Global Summit 2025, hosted for the very first time here in the Asia-Pacific region.
The 6G Global Summit
This Summit marks a pivotal moment for the global telecommunications industry. While 5G has been a progressive step in the history of telecommunications development, delivering faster data speeds, lower latency, and wider coverage, the rapid pace of technological advancements compels us to think ahead and look beyond 5G, to prepare for the next transformative leap to 6G.
This is why we are all here today, thinking ahead of what 6G exactly is - the technology and standardisation; what 6G will bring about - the potentials and benefits, and how it will transform or even reform our industry and society; and when will it happen; as well as what we need to prepare for the underlying challenges, such as the sustainability and accessibility of the technology. In the next two days, with hundreds of experts and top industry leaders here, in person and online, I am sure that we would be able to come up with brilliant ideas through fruitful discussions and exchanges in this Summit, which will shape the future of connectivity for the years to come.
Hong Kong, a pioneer in telecommunications technology
Being able to host the 6G Global Summit for the first time ever in Hong Kong not only reflects our city's long-standing stature as a global and regional telecommunications hub, it also underscores our commitment to driving innovation and fostering collaboration in this transformative field. Hong Kong is uniquely positioned to play a leading role in the development of 6G.
Our city's telecommunications market is one of the most advanced and dynamic in the world, with a proven track record of embracing innovation and driving connectivity. Allow me to share some highlights that showcase Hong Kong's readiness to contribute to the global 6G journey. Since the full liberalisation of our telecommunications market in 2003, we have successfully created a level playing field that encourages competition, growth and innovation, enabling our citizens to enjoy a wide range of world-class telecommunications infrastructure and services. Hong Kong has already achieved territory-wide 5G coverage with about 8 million users, representing over 105 per cent of the population last year. Our 5G availability ranks first in the Asia-Pacific region. With our extensive network infrastructure, our fibre-to-the-home or building penetration rate is around 90 per cent, placing us in the top five globally according to a report issued by the Fibre to the Home Council Europe in March 2025. This robust infrastructure serves as a strong foundation for 6G deployment and reflects our ability to support cutting-edge applications and services. We also lead the world in mobile voice affordability, rank second globally in mobile broadband affordability and seventh in fixed broadband affordability, ensuring our telecommunications services are affordable and accessible to all. These achievements are not just about numbers; they also reflect our readiness to embrace the future of telecommunications.
HKSARG's commitment to innovation and 6G development
Notwithstanding the above accomplishments, we will not be complacent or stop there. The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSARG) is fully committed to fostering a conducive environment that drives technological advancement and prepares us for the 6G era. In this regard, we are already planning ahead and taking concrete action to embrace 6G development. To name a few, we became the first city in the world to auction radio spectrum in the 6/7 GHz band last November, which is a critical step in preparing for the deployment of 6G mobile communications services, demonstrating our proactive approach to adopt and enable the next-generation technologies.
Our major mobile network operators in Hong Kong have already actively commenced testing and successfully validating 5G-Advanced, commonly known as 5.5G, network in various applications, for example, in large-scale drone shows, world class sport events, etc. Such technology allows us to create a smarter connected network, facilitate businesses in monitoring operations in real-time, share data more efficiently, and analyse collected images and information through advanced platforms.
We also see great potential in developing low-altitude economy, with its wide applicability in different areas and various industries, thereby injecting new impetus into Hong Kong's economy. The success of this initiative requires sound infrastructure, particularly a comprehensive, stable and efficient communications network. As Hong Kong is well covered by 5G network and progressing into 5.5G as mentioned just now, the city is well-positioned to support this development. We are also proactively exploring further facilitation measures from a telecommunications perspective to support the development of low-altitude economy.
Beyond terrestrial networks, we see Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites as a game-changer in telecommunications. With their low latency, high transmission rates and cost efficiency, LEO satellites are transforming industries worldwide. To strengthen Hong Kong's competitiveness in this field, the Government is conducting a study to streamline relevant licensing procedures for LEO satellites, with a view to attracting global operators, talent and investment to establish Hong Kong as a hub for satellite innovation. Recently, we have also seen exciting collaboration between LEO satellite operators and our mobile network operators on satellite-mobile connectivity. This is all happening in Hong Kong, and we welcome our partners from the Mainland and other parts of the world to join us in transforming new telecommunications technology into promising innovative applications that enhance the quality of life, thereby benefitting the general public as a whole.
We will spare no effort in continuing our betterment to create an ideal environment to embrace the 6G era. To turn excellence into perfection, achieving this vision will require collaboration on a global scale. Platforms like the 6G Global Summit are essential for uniting brilliant minds from around the world, fostering innovation, and collectively shaping the future of telecommunications.
Closing remarks
Today's Summit is a testament to the critical role that collaboration plays in driving the future of telecommunications. As we gather here today, let us not forget the importance of collaboration. The development of 6G will require unprecedented partnerships, including governments, industries, academia, and organisations like those present here today must work hand in hand to ensure that 6G networks are inclusive, sustainable and transformative.
Hong Kong is proud to play a pivotal role in this transformative journey. Hosting this inaugural 6G Global Summit in the Asia-Pacific region reflects our city's commitment to innovation and collaboration. It is through gatherings like this that we can spark bold ideas and partnerships to shape the future of connectivity for generations to come.
Today, we are honoured to welcome over 600 guests from around the globe. Your presence is the key to the success of the Summit. I hope you could also take a moment to enjoy what Hong Kong has to offer. Wishing you all a pleasant stay in Hong Kong. Thank you.
Ends/Thursday, May 8, 2025
Issued at HKT 10:27
Issued at HKT 10:27
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