The Communications Authority (CA) announced today (7 April 2022) its decision pursuant to section 34(4) of the Telecommunications Ordinance (Cap. 106) (TO) to suspend the Class Licence for Offer of Telecommunications Services (CLOTS) of Ultra Data Technology Limited (Registration Number CLOTS0000070) (Ultra Data) in respect of offering local mobile service through SIM cards (including those under the “ULTRASIM” brand) subject to the real-name registration requirements for its failure to comply with the direction issued by the CA on 8 March 2022 pursuant to section 36B(1)(a) of the TO and contravention of Clause 3.2.1 of the Guidelines on Implementation of Real-name Registration for SIM Cards (Guidelines) and Condition 4.1 of the CLOTS.
On 8 March 2022, the CA issued directions to five licensees including Ultra Data requiring them to rectify their contravention of the Guidelines and the relevant condition of their licences for failure to put in place an electronic registration platform with a database for their SIM cards before 1 March 2022 (Direction). The five licensees were directed to take a number of actions by specified deadlines with a view to implementing the electronic registration platform no later than 29 March 2022.
Of the above five licensees, four of them (viz. Hong Kong uCloudlink Network Technology Limited1, Neware Info Technology Limited2, Truphone (Hong Kong) Limited3 and Uhuibao International Business Co., Limited4) have complied with the Directions to the satisfaction of the CA by establishing an electronic registration platform for real-name registration for SIM cards on or before the deadlines. The CA therefore considered that no further regulatory action against them would be necessary.
On the other hand, Ultra Data has failed to comply with the Direction. After considering the representations of Ultra Data, the CA decided that the CLOTS of Ultra Data will be suspended in respect of offering local mobile service through SIM cards (including those under the “ULTRASIM” brand) subject to the real-name registration requirements for a period of 12 months with effect from 7 June 2022. For details, please refer to the Direction and the Notice of Suspension of Licence published on the CA’s website respectively.
Consumers are advised not to purchase or recharge any local mobile service (including those offered through SIM cards under the “ULTRASIM” brand) offered by Ultra Data with immediate effect. If they would like to continue to use their existing local mobile numbers as assigned by Ultra Data for mobile services, they should approach other mobile service providers for service migration as soon as possible and in any case before 7 June 2022.
Communications Authority
Secretariat
7 April 2022
Notes:
| (1) | Registered licensee under the CLOTS with Registration Number CLOTS0000066 |
| (2) | Registered licensee under the CLOTS with Registration Number CLOTS0000071 |
| (3) | Holder of Services-Based Operator Licence Number 1568 |
| (4) | Registered licensee under the CLOTS with Registration Number CLOTS0000056 |