Macao is likely to have the third-generation (3G) mobile-phone services in 2006, local media reported Thursday.

 

Macao Post Daily quoted sources from the government as saying that the bidding process is to start later in March and the granting of the licenses is to be completed by the end of 2006.

 

Two or more 3G licenses will possibly be granted, the sources told the newspaper.

 

The three local cellphone operators, CTM, Hutchinson and SmartT-one, have a total of 531,264 subscribers in Macao, a region with a population of 480,000, according to official statistics.

 

The introduction of the 3G services is hopefully to bring competition in the local cellphone services market, according to Macao Post Daily.

 

The 3G services feature person-to-person video, video live streaming and video downloads of entertainment, news and sports contents.

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 10, 2006)