香港—資訊社會 - 「數碼21」資訊科技策略

5.11 5.11 The mobile phone market continues to bevery active and highly competitive. At the end of 1 140 7.4% 2008, the number of public mobile subscribers162.7 increased by 7.4% over a year earlier to 11.4million. In every 100 population, there were on5.3 5.4average 162.7 public mobile subscribers, makingHong Kong one of the places with the highestpenetration of this service in the world. (Table 5.3and Chart 5.4)5.12 5.12 From 1998 to 2008, the subscribers of the2G 290 856 second generation (2G) mobile phone serviceincreased from 2.90 million to 8.56 million,2.5Gsignifying a growth of around two times. The 7.0%3G second point five generation (2.5G) subscribersdecreased around 7.0% between 2003 and 2008.The third generation (3G) mobile phone service was281 launched in Hong Kong in January 2004, enabling 5.3consumers to enjoy a wider choice of multi-mediamobile service. As at end 2008, the number ofsubscribers of 3G mobile phone services reached2.81 million. (Table 5.3)5.13 5.13 Meanwhile, in face of the intense marketcompetition, the mobile cellular tariffs fell100 markedly. Average mobile cellular tariffs (100144.7 minutes of use per month) dropped from $144.7 in8.5 94.1%5.3 1998 to $8.5 in 2008, representing a decrease of94.1%. (Table 5.3)5.14 5.14 Apart from using voice as a traditionalcommunication tool, wireless and mobile servicessuch as Short Message Service (SMS) andMulti-media Message Service (MMS) are飊 increasingly popular in mobile communication.5.3Between 2003 and 2008, the number of variouskinds of short messages sent and received had ahuge surge, recording increases of about ten timesand five times respectively. (Table 5.3)78Hong Kong as an Information Society 2009