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Mobile service coverage in country parks has further improved with the recent launch of two new base stations at Tai Lam Chung Reservoir and Chung Pui (near Plover Cove Reservoir), bringing the total number of base stations serving country parks to 16.
A spokesperson of the Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA) said, ¡°The new base stations at Tai Lam Chung and Chung Pui are part of the continuous efforts made by the Government and mobile network operators in enhancing mobile coverage in country parks. After the launch of the two mobile stations, the mobile coverage of country parks at Pat Sin Leng, Plover Cove and Tai Lam (which includes Stage 10 of the MacLehose Trail) has been further strengthened. ¡±
To enable hikers and country park visitors to call for assistance in case of emergency, the Government has been encouraging mobile network operators to establish more mobile base stations in country parks, and providing assistance in facilitating the implementation of the projects. Visitors to country parks can contact the Emergency Centre of the Police by dialing the emergency number ¡°112¡± even if there is only one mobile service operator providing coverage at a specific location.
¡°OFTA will continue to work with mobile network operators to further enhance mobile coverage in country parks. Apart from the two new base stations mentioned, two more base stations at Tai Long Au and Shek Pik are scheduled to be completed later this year, while several others are in the pipeline,¡± continued the spokesperson.
"Although the mobile service coverage in country parks has further improved, we would like to remind hikers and country park visitors to make full preparation before they go hiking. Apart from obtaining all relevant hiking information, they should bring along communication devices other than mobile phones, such as walkie-talkies. Despite the improving mobile service coverage, individual "blind spots" scattered around the country park areas could not be completely eliminated because of the characteristics of radio propagation and the rugged terrain in country parks. For more detailed information, members of the public are invited to visit OFTA's web site by viewing the column "Stay in Touch in Country Park" (http://www.ofta.gov.hk/en/ca_bd/stay-in-touch.html)," said the spokesperson.
OFTA has so far produced 161 digital maps showing information of mobile coverage in country parks. Members of the public can download the maps free of charge from OFTA¡¯s website (http://www.ofta.gov.hk/en/ca_bd/country_map/main.html). OFTA will continue to update the information as appropriate.
Ends/Sunday, April 13, 2008
Issued at HKT 11:30
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