3 (Three) - Hong Kong

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3 (Three)
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Hong Kong Flag of Hong Kong View country details


3 (Three) (Hong Kong) uses 2 GSM bands, 2 UMTS bands, 2 LTE bands, and 2 5G NR bands. Find out if your unlocked phone or mobile device will work with 3 (Three) (Hong Kong). See the tables below for details.

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Carrier website: http://www.three.com.hk/

Last updated: 2024/08/04 - See latest updates

3 Hong Kong, also known as 3HK or Three HK, is a telecommunications and internet service provider operating in Hong Kong under the global Three brand. Here are some key points about their mobile network:

History

  • Founding: The company was founded in 1984 as Hutchison Telecom Hong Kong and was officially named 3 Hong Kong in 2002.
  • Global Operations: 3 Hong Kong is part of the global Three brand, operating in 12 markets worldwide.

Network Coverage

  • 5G Network: 3 Hong Kong boasts the strongest 5G network in Hong Kong, covering nearly 600 indoor and outdoor premises, including highways, shopping malls, commercial buildings, hospitals, universities, and hotels. They have achieved a 5G coverage of 99% of the territory.
  • Frequency Bands: The network operates on various frequency bands, including 700 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2600 MHz, 3.3 GHz, and 3.5 GHz. The 3.5 GHz band is specifically used for 5G NR.

Services

  • Mobile Network: 3 Hong Kong provides 5G, 4.5G, 4G LTE, 3G, and GSM dual-band mobile telecommunications services.
  • Home Broadband: Although 3 Hong Kong originally provided home broadband services under the 3Home Broadband brand, this service was rebranded and is now managed by HGC Global Communications, another subsidiary of CK Hutchison.

Roaming Services

  • Cross-Network Roaming: 3 Hong Kong offers cross-network roaming services in mainland China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and Australia, ensuring seamless connectivity for travelers.
  • Roaming Plans: They offer various roaming plans, including a 3-Day Pass for mainland China, a Monthly Plan for Greater China, and a RoamLite Pass for data usage.

Additional Services

  • VAS (Value-Added Services): 3 Hong Kong provides various value-added services such as gaming and home entertainment services.
  • SIM Plans: They offer different SIM plans, including 5G/4.5G plans and 5G broadband services.

Network Development

  • 5G Development: 3 Hong Kong has been at the forefront of 5G development in Hong Kong, launching its 5G service in April 2020 with a powerful 10Gbps optical-fibre backhaul network. They have also built over 1,200 5G golden spectrum band base stations, covering Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the New Territories, and outlying islands.

Overall, 3 Hong Kong is a significant player in Hong Kong's telecommunications market, known for its strong 5G network and comprehensive service offerings.

Frequency Bands

GSM

Name Interface Description
900 MHz (E-GSM) GSM

3 (Three) Hong Kong uses the GSM 900 MHz (E-GSM) frequency band. This band ranges from 880 MHz to 960 MHz, with the uplink frequency range being from 880 MHz to 915 MHz and the downlink range from 925 MHz to 960 MHz. The ARFCNs in this band start from 0 to 124 and 975 to 1023.
1800 MHz (DCS) GSM

3 (Three) Hong Kong uses the GSM 1800 MHz (DCS) frequency band. This band was deployed in 1995, marking the launch of their GSM service in Hong Kong.

Supported GSM Protocols

Name Generation
GPRS 2.5G
EDGE 2.5G

UMTS

Name Interface Description
B1 (2100 MHz) UMTS

3 (Three) Hong Kong uses the frequency band UMTS B1 (2100 MHz). The deployment of this band is not specified in the provided information.
B8 (900 MHz GSM) UMTS

3 (Three) Hong Kong uses UMTS B8 (900 MHz GSM) for its mobile network services. This frequency band was deployed in 2024.

Supported UMTS Protocols

Name Generation
UMTS 3G
HSPA+ 3.5G (4G speed)

LTE

Name Interface Description
B3 (1800 MHz +) LTE

3 (Three) Hong Kong uses LTE Band 3 (1800 MHz +). The deployment of this frequency band by 3 (Three) Hong Kong began in May 2014.
B8 (900 MHz) LTE

3 (Three) Hong Kong uses LTE band B8 (900 MHz). This frequency band was added to their network on August 4, 2024.

Supported LTE Protocols

Name Generation
LTE 4G

5G NR

Name Interface Description
N1 (2100 MHz) 5G NR

Three Hong Kong uses the 5G NR frequency band N1 (2100 MHz). This band covers the frequency range from 1920 to 1980 MHz for the uplink and from 2110 to 2170 MHz for the downlink. The duplex spacing is 190 MHz, and the supported channel bandwidths include 5, 10, 15, and 20 MHz.
N78 (3500 MHz) 5G NR

Hong Kong's use of the 5G NR N78 (3500 MHz) frequency band involves the deployment of 5G services in the 3.5 GHz band, commonly referred to as the C-band. This band is designated for Time Division Duplexing (TDD) and is widely used for 5G deployments due to its relatively common availability and potential for high capacity throughput. The n78 band spans from 3300 MHz to 3800 MHz, supporting channel bandwidths ranging from 10 MHz to 100 MHz. Advanced technologies like massive MIMO, beam-forming, and beam-tracking help mitigate the limited range and building penetration issues associated with higher frequencies. This band is particularly popular for its ability to support large channel widths, making it suitable for delivering high-capacity 5G services.

Hong Kong's telecom operators have acquired spectrum in the 3.5 GHz band as part of their 5G spectrum auction. The deployment of 5G services in this band began in 2020, with operators like China Mobile Hong Kong, Hong Kong Telecommunications, Hutchison Telephone Company Limited, and SmarTone Mobile Communications launching their 5G services in April 2020. The 3.5 GHz band is expected to cover a significant portion of Hong Kong, with operators aiming to provide extensive coverage and high-speed data services to the public.

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