A PYMNTS Company

Hong Kong: HKT wins merger victory, loses Apple fight

By  |  May 7, 2014

Wireless operator HKT has secured approval to acquire rival CSL New World Mobility, but the win was dampened for the Hong Kong company after telco regulators rejected HKT’s lawsuit against Apple alleging anticompetitive behavior.

According to reports, PCCW-owned HKT had its claims against Apple tossed by the Telecommunications Appeal Board last month. The company argued Apple Asia unfairly locked wireless SIM cards for the iPhone 5, reports say.

The case was handed back down to the Communications Authority, which will rule on the matter by July 1.

While HKT expressed disappointment in the decision, the company said SIM card locking “is an important consumer protection and competition issue” and hopes to have regulators become more vocal on the practice.

Despite the setback, HKT’s CSL acquisition threatens to upend Hong Kong’s wireless industry, reports say.

Full content: South China Morning Post

Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.