This report on Telecommunications in Macau covers the existing basic level of services for FTNS, IDD and mobile telecommunications services as well as profiling those companies with a current presence in the market including the monopoly telco CTM.Macau remains a monopoly market.
However, in August 2000 the government announced that it was moving to open up the telecommunications sector, in particular the mobiles sector of the market. Five Hong Kong companies announced their intention to bid for licenses. Companhia de Telecomunicações (CTM) is the currently monopoly provider of telecoms. The company has sought to improve the SAR’s communications and has installed a network of sophisticated communications equipment, including Asia’s first fully digital network. CTM is now installing fibre optical cables into neighbouring Mainland China and playing a role in laying an undersea cable between Japan and Europe (a project undertaken by several major world telcos). CTM’s strategic goal is to provide the necessary technology at a competitive price to transform Macau into a major call centre for the region and to provide a telecoms system and service capable of attracting business to Macau.