HKT Limited (HKT) has completed the building of a fiber-optic network that connects Lamma Island. Residents are able to enjoy their first home high-speed broadband experience as numerous communities are connected to the network in succession. The fiber network is anticipated to be extended to serve a total of 19 settlements on the island by the end of this year.
HKT has established fiber networks connecting settlements on outlying islands, including Lamma Island, with funds from the government's Subsidy Scheme to extend fiber-based networks to villages in remote areas. HKT also plans to expand network coverage beyond the villages covered by the program.
Prior to the establishment of the fiber network connection, Lamma Island residents could only access the Internet at download speeds of up to 30 Mbps. Because of the Group's investment in the 10-Gigabit-capable symmetric passive optical network (XGSPON), high-speed broadband service with symmetrical uplink and downlink speeds of up to 10Gbps will be available as an option for approximately 40% of island residents by the end of the month, supporting Now TV's 4K program broadcast and other OTT services as well as various sorts of IoT devices at home. At the same time, the network infrastructure contributes to improved 5G mobile service coverage on Lamma Island, which benefits both citizens and visitors.
Susanna Hui, group managing director of HKT, said, "We are pleased to extend our fiber network to cover outlying islands, including Lamma Island, with the support of the government. This increases the accessibility of fiber broadband service and 5G network in remote areas, addressing the daily connectivity and entertainment needs of the island’s residents. Hong Kong has seen a 58% growth in its average monthly broadband internet traffic from 2019 to 2022. As the city's biggest broadband service provider, HKT will continue providing stable, reliable high-speed network service for the public while extending our network coverage to drive Hong Kong's smart city development."
Lamma Island residents welcomed this improvement and said that since connectivity has become an integral part of their daily lives, stable and high-speed internet would address problems that come with slow network traffic, therefore improving work and learning efficiency.
