ABSTRACT
Competition is so intense that voice call prices are amongst the cheapest in the world. On 2002 ITU data, monthly usage of 300 minutes costs over US$80 in Japan but less that US$20 in Hong Kong. It is probably much lower today due to continuing vicious price wars. It is actually cheaper to make a voice call than send an SMS in Hong Kong. As a result, Hong Kongers have never developed a ‘data habit’ and 2G operators are focused on the struggle to survive rather than investing in future services with uncertain prospects.
