A new Telecommunications Law, set to replace the 20-year-old legislation, has been approved by the Executive Council (ExCo) for legislative review, introducing two technology-neutral licences – network and service – with no limit on the number of operators. The proposed Telecommunications Law, unveiled by ExCo spokesman, Secretary for Administration and Justice Wong Sio Chak, will replace the current tender-based market access system with an application-based regime and introduce “technology-neutral licences.” The legislation, he explained at a press conference, sets out the legal framework for the deployment and operation of public networks and telecom services, but excludes broadcasting and satellite television services, which are governed by separate laws. Notably, the bill combines ex-ante and ex-post regulation to curb market dominance and impose obligations on dominant players, while introducing technology-neutral licences with no cap on operators. The bill also explicitly provides that the Chief Executive may, through an evaluation mechanism, designate service providers to deliver universal services, covering in particular basic voice and emergency call services, fixed-line directory and enquiry services, public telephone booth services, and internet access services.