Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong's (0215) 3 Group launched a new monthly plan with data usable across more than 220 countries and regions, as local residents make outbound trips more frequently.
Named the World Plan, its coverage includes not only popular destinations that include mainland China and Japan but also some emerging remote locales such as Vanuatu and Costa Rica.
Monthly charges for the World Plan range from HK$338 to HK$958 per month.
It comes as over 20 percent of HTHK customers who traveled abroad recorded 30 or more travel days last year, the telecom services provider said.
The trend of spontaneous travel, or “travel on a whim,” has become increasingly popular, noted HTHK executive director and chief executive Koo Sing-fai.
When asked about how to ensure roaming quality in remote areas, Koo said that it will largely depend on local network operators, but HTHK will select those with wider coverage based on date and offer at least two networks to clients.
As the costs in remote areas are higher, Koo admitted that profits there will be lower. But he highlighted that this can be balanced by other regions that are more profitable and that the plan’s coverage could expand as the customer base grows.
Koo added that HTHK can benefit from 12 international markets under its parent company CK Hutchison Group (0001).
THEMIS QI
