Hutchison Telecom Hong Kong (0215) seems to have embarked on a price war against rival mobile carriers with the launch yesterday of its fourth-generation, or 4G, service plans.Cost for the packages - aimed at all mobile phone users in Hong Kong - is about the same as what Hutch offers clients using its 3G network.
"We do not hope to see a price war," chief operating officer Amy Lung Pui-ying said, adding the 3G packages on average cost HK$20 to HK$30 less than its 4G offers.
But according to the website of Hutch subsidiary 3 Hong Kong, 3G packages with 2,800 minutes of airtime and unlimited data usage cost HK$238 per month. A similar package for the 4G network cost only HK$228.
Hutchison Telecom is the fourth local carrier to launch its 4G network.
Rival One2free offers 4G unlimited data plans with 3,900 minutes of airtime for HK$237 per month. China Mobile's 4G unlimited plan, with 2,800 minutes of airtime, would cost HK$218 per month.
PCCW Mobile offers a 10-gigabyte plan with 3,000 minutes of airtime for HK$208 per month. KAREN HA
