The news marks the first interconnection between Hong Kong and Mainland China via the HZM bridge, although it will be HGC’s fifth cross-border link between Mainland China and Hong Kong.
“HGC has a long history of partnership with China Telecom, where the two entities’ networks and assets have been fully utilised to reach common goals. This evolves from traditional bilateral cooperation to a common platform which can address different possibilities and mutually benefit both HGC and China Telecom and ultimately reinforce Hong Kong’s leading position as Asia’s telecom hub. The fibre cable deployed by HGC at the “Hong Kong Link Road section” of the HZM Bridge is now in service, offering fibre and transmission capacity even before the official opening of the bridge,” said Andrew Kwok, chief executive officer of HGC.
The new link offers a capacity of at least 100Gbps, but has designed to give a maximum of 8Tbps. The two parties say that adding the fifth connection will enhance route diversification, and therefore meet customers’ demand for high quality, reliable telecom services.
“China Telecom is pleased to establish an interconnection with HGC at the Hong Kong- Zhuhai- Macau Bridge. With both parties’ diverse network connection routes and our history of close cooperation, the new fibre connection will help China Telecom provide customers with stable and reliable cross border service, meeting the ever-increasing demand in the Greater Bay Area and neighbouring countries and regions,” said Deng Xiaofeng, managing director of global business department at China Telecom.
The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (Greater Bay Area) initiative set out in China's 13th five-year plan of China intends to highlight the region’s role and aspiration in the global economic supply chain, with the inclusion of the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau. The key economic sectors of the area include high-tech manufacturing, logistics and digital and innovation industries. The new fibre connection will provide capacity for anticipated growth in cross-border traffic. Once the interconnection is in place, the fibre cable will stretch along the 29.6 km dual 3-lane carriageway - including a 6.7 km tunnel – and connecting the Boundary Crossing Facilities in Hong Kong, Zhuhai, and Macau.
