Substitutes for Mobile Voice Roaming Services ( MVRS ) In order to stay connected, consumers these days will more often than not bring along their mobile phones when travelling outside Hong Kong, whether on business trips or vacations. While charges of other telecommunications services have fallen drastically over the past decade, those for MVRS remain at relatively high levels. For example, it costs around HK$7 per minute for a Hong Kong user to receive an incoming call in Shenzhen using MVRS. Are there any more affordable substitutes for MVRS? Consumers may consider using the following services as substitutes for MVRS when travelling outside Hong Kong. Generally speaking, these substitutes are more affordable. For example, it costs less than HK$1 per minute for a Hong Kong user to receive an incoming call in Shenzhen by using these substitutes: Single-Card-Multiple-Number Service Call Back Service International Call Forwarding Service International Calling Card Service Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service over mobile data / Wi-Fi network Local pre-paid SIM card How to use the substitutes? What are their advantages and limitations? Single-Card-Multiple-Number Service ( SCMNS ) SCMNS is offered by some mobile operators (including mobile network operators and mobile virtual network operators). An SCMNS user will be provided with a SIM card that supports a few local mobile s for use in several places, e.g. Hong Kong, the Mainland, Macau and Taiwan. When the user travels to one of those destinations, his/her mobile phone will select the local mobile in that destination for users to make calls. Advantages No need for users to carry multiple SIM cards and switch cards when travelling to different destinations. Users can make and receive calls at the local Limitation Currently, SCMNS is available in a few destinations only, e.g. the Mainland, Macau
s of their destinations and are charged local rates. Users can continue to receive incoming calls made to their Hong Kong s. and Taiwan. Call Back Service ( CBS ) CBS is offered by some of the services-based operators and fixed network operators providing external telecommunications services. CBS allows users to make outgoing calls at lower rates when travelling outside Hong Kong. The diagram below illustrates how to use CBS.
In Hong Kong Step 1: Service provider to provide user with a CBS with prefix 3 (e.g. 3XXX XXXX) Step 2: User to call the CBS hotline to register a local mobile or fixed of his/her destination that will be used to make calls Register destination no. e.g. +86 XXX XXXXXXXX (Call CBS Hotline) In Destination (e.g. Mainland) Registered Step 3: User to use the registered to call the CBS (with international access code and country code) Call CBS : 00 852 3XXX XXXX Registered (After a few seconds) 00 = International access code in Mainland 852 = Country code in Hong Kong 3XXX XXXX = CBS Step 4: (a) System will call back to the registered. (b) User to answer the call and to (c) Input the to be called (e.g. 852 2961 XXXX). CBS System (a) System calls back Registered (b) Answer the call (c) Input (e.g. 852 2961 XXXX) User will be connected to the Hong Kong 2961 XXXX
Some mobile operators in Hong Kong also provide CBS. illustrates how to use CBS provided by mobile operators. The diagram below In Destination (e.g. Mainland) Mobile phone with Hong Kong SIM card Step 1: User to dial the CBS short code + telephone to be called For call back to Hong Kong, user to dial: Short code for CBS (e.g. **XXX*) Hong Kong telephone (e.g. 2961 XXXX) # Send For call to other place (e.g. USA), user to dial: Short code for CBS (e.g. **XXX*) International access code in Mainland (e.g. 00) Country code + Area code (if any) + telephone (e.g. 1 917 XXX XXXX in the USA) # Send (After a few seconds) Step 2: (a) System calls back. (b) User to answer the call. (c) User will be connected to the inputted. Advantages Lower charging rate for making calls. CBS can be used in most destinations in the world. CBS is for making outgoing calls only (i.e. not for receiving incoming calls). It takes a longer time to establish a call connection. Users need to have access to a local phone in their destination for making calls and may incur charges in dialling a call to the CBS (save for CBS provided by mobile operators). International Call Forwarding Service ( ICFS ) ICFS is offered by some of the services-based operators and fixed network
operators providing external telecommunications services. ICFS allows users to forward incoming calls made to their Hong Kong mobile s to a local mobile or fixed in users destinations, such that the users can still be reached via their usual Hong Kong mobile s. The diagram below illustrates how to use an ICFS. Before departure from Hong Kong Step 1: Service provider provides user with an ICFS with prefix 30 or 8 (e.g. 30XX XXXX or 8XXX XXXX) Step 2: (a) User to call the ICFS hotline to forward calls from ICFS to a local mobile/fixed of his/her destination. (b) User to forward calls from his/her Hong Kong mobile to ICFS. (a) Set the destination e.g. +86 XXX XXXXXXXX (Call ICFS hotline) + (b) Call forwarding Pre-set ICFS : e.g. 30XX XXXX HK mobile no (9XXX XXXX) In Destination (e.g. Mainland) All incoming calls of HK mobile will be forwarded to pre-set local mobile/fixed in destination as illustrated below: Incoming Calls Forwarded to ICFS : e.g. 30XX XXXX HK mobile no. (9XXX XXXX) Forwarded to Pre-set After returning to Hong Kong (+86 XXX XXXXXXXX) User to cancel all call forwarding after coming back to Hong Kong
Advantages Users can continue to receive incoming calls made to their Hong Kong mobile s when travelling outside Hong Kong. Lower charging rate for receiving calls. ICFS can be used in most destinations in the world. ICFS is for receiving incoming calls only (i.e. not for making outgoing calls). Users need to have access to a local mobile or fixed in their destination for receiving calls. International Calling Card Service ( ICCS ) ICCS is offered by some of the services-based operators and fixed network operators providing external telecommunications services. ICCS enables users to make outgoing calls back to Hong Kong or to other places when travelling outside Hong Kong. Before leaving Hong Kong, the user needs to register with the service provider, and once that is done, will be provided with a Calling Card Number and a personal identity. After the user has reached his/her destination, he/she can dial the specified and make a call following instructions given over the phone to Hong Kong or to other places. Advantages Lower charging rate for making calls. ICCS is available in most destinations in the world. ICCS is for making outgoing calls only (i.e. not for receiving incoming calls). Users need to have access to a local phone in their destinations for making calls. Alternatively, consumers may purchase international calling cards in their destinations for making calls back to Hong Kong or other places. However, there may be language barriers when purchasing and using these international calling cards. Voice over Internet Protocol ( VoIP ) Service over Mobile Data / Wi-Fi Network Some of the fixed network operators and services-based operators offer VoIP services which may be used in Hong Kong and other places. Some VoIP services enable users to make and receive VoIP calls through mobile data or Wi-Fi connection. Users would need to download the VoIP software or application, install and run it on their computers or smartphones in order to make and receive VoIP calls.
Advantage Lower charging rate for making and receiving calls. Users are not able to receive incoming calls made to their Hong Kong mobile s. Users would need to have a computer or a smartphone installed with VoIP software or application. Cost may be incurred for accessing the mobile data or Wi-Fi service. The use of VoIP service may be prohibited in some destinations. Local Pre-Paid SIM Card Users may purchase local pre-paid SIM cards in their destinations and insert them in their mobile phones for making and receiving local calls, which are charged at local rates. Advantage Local calls are charged at local rates. Users are not able to receive incoming calls made to their Hong Kong mobile s. There may be language barriers when purchasing and using the local pre-paid SIM cards. Service providers in some destinations may be required under their laws or regulations to verify and record the personal particulars of customers who purchase pre-paid SIM cards. The un-used balance of the pre-paid SIM card may go to waste. Consideration in Selecting the MRVS and their Service Substitutes MVRS and their service substitutes have their own advantages and limitations. Before subscribing to or using any of these services, consumers are reminded to obtain information on coverage areas, tariffs, terms and conditions, and instructions of use from the service providers, in selecting a service or a combination of the services that best fit their needs and budget. Set out below are the lists of various types of operators in Hong Kong providing MVRS and their service substitutes:
(a) mobile network operators (http://app1.ofta.gov.hk/apps/telecom_lic/content/lic_list.asp?lan guage=english&ucl=y&mobservice=y) (b) mobile virtual network operators (http://www.ofta.gov.hk/en/tele-lic/operator-licensees/sbo-mvno.h tml) (c) fixed network operators providing external telecommunications services (http://app1.ofta.gov.hk/apps/telecom_lic/content/lic_list.asp?language=englis h&extservice=y) (d) services-based operators providing external telecommunications services (http://www.ofta.gov.hk/en/tele-lic/operator-licensees/sbo-ets.html) (e) services-based operators providing VoIP services (http://www.ofta.gov.hk/en/tele-lic/sbo-lic.html) Office of the Telecommunications Authority August 2011