Internet Services5.17 169 5.17 As at the end of 2008, Hong Kong had着 169 licensed Internet Service Providers (ISPs).As technology grew rapidly, the use of Internet withbroadband connection became popular whereas theuse of Internet through Public Switched Telephone 93 Networks (PSTN) decreased progressively. The 1 031 Internet traffic volume of customer access via123 broadband networks increased sharply from195 58.3% 0.93 million terabits in 2003 to 10.31 millionterabits in 2008. Besides, the number of registered36 broadband Internet access customer accounts rose3 from 1.23 million to 1.95 million during 2003 to96 2008, representing an increase of 58.3%. On the108 contrary, the Internet traffic volume of customer 5.6access via PSTN decreased from 3.6 billion minutesin 2003 to 0.3 billion in 2008. Furthermore, as atthe end of 2008, there were only 0.96 millionregistered customer accounts with dial-up access, ascompared with 1.08 million as at end of 2003.(Table 5.6)5.18 5.18 As at the end of 2008, the international24.3 Internet bandwidth per person was 24.3 kilobits persecond. Besides, the tariff of Internet access via68 dial-up modem was $68 per month, whereas that via121 broadband was $121 per month in 2008. (Table 5.6) 5.65.19 5.19 According to the results of the Annual Surveyof Storage, Communication, Financing, Insuranceand Business Services, the ISPs generated $6.7 67 88.4% billion of business receipts from Internet related5.7services in 2007, within which 88.4% weregenerated from provision of basic Internetconnection services. (Table 5.7) Further ReferencesReport on Annual Surveys of Storage,Communication, Banking, Financing, Insurance andBusiness ServicesStatistical Digest of the Services Sector (Annual)80Hong Kong as an Information Society 2009
5.1 Table 5.1 Key statistics on operating characteristics of the telecommunications industryHK$ million (unless otherwise specified)1997 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007Fixed telephone and telegraph services 5 6 6 7 7 8 8Number of establishments 13 841 8 085 9 021 6 571 6 185 5 678 6 368Number of persons engaged 4,623 2,301 2,396 1,790 1,739 1,584 1,616Compensation of employees 16,435 8,770 9,164 9,157 9,725 9,360 9,330Operating expenses 33,679 22,565 19,793 19,979 19,458 18,162 19,081Business receipts andother income 16,553 14,174 10,978 10,370 10,631 9,741 10,857Value addedMobile phone services 8 7 9 8 7 6 7Number of establishments 7 810 5 697 5 553 4 652 5 115 4 720 4 191Number of persons engaged 2,285 1,731 1,832 1,361 1,490 1,436 1,364Compensation of employees 9,545 7,330 7,431 8,392 7,722 7,829 9,109Operating expenses 20,038 14,759 16,116 16,396 16,139 16,569 17,815Business receipts andother income 4,551 5,762 6,501 4,468 4,911 5,354 5,502Value addedThis table is continued on the next page.81 Hong Kong as an Information Society 2009