Hutchison Asia Telecom
| Company type | Segment of a conglomerate |
|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications |
| Predecessor | Hutchison Telecommunications International Limited |
| Fate | Became fully owned subsidiary of Hutchison Whampoa in May 2010; delisted from Hong Kong Stock Exchange |
| Successor | Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings (spun off assets in 2009) |
| Headquarters | Hong Kong , Hong Kong |
Area served | Asia (Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam) |
| Products | Mobile network services (GSM, 3G, 4G) |
| Owner | CK Hutchison Holdings |
| Parent | CK Hutchison Holdings |
Hutchison Asia Telecom Group (abbreviated as HAT) operates as a segment of the Hong Kong-based global conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings. It delivers telecommunications services throughout Asia, managing mobile networks in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam under the brand names 3, Hutch, and Vietnamobile. Previously identified as Hutchison Telecommunications International Limited (also known as Hutchison Telecom or HTIL), the company was incorporated offshore in the Cayman Islands and publicly listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong.
Hutchison Telecom provided GSM, 3G, and 4G mobile network services within these regions. It was publicly traded on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the ticker 2332 and had American depositary shares listed on the New York Stock Exchange. In May 2010, it became a fully owned subsidiary of Hutchison Whampoa, leading to its delisting. In 2009, Hutchison Telecom separated part of its assets into a newly listed company, Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings, which comprises 3 Hong Kong and Hutchison Global Communications.
History
During 1999 and 2000, Hutchison Telecom divested its stakes in Orange and VoiceStream, channeling most of the capital into expanding its global third-generation (3G) mobile broadband network based on the European UMTS (W-CDMA) standard.
In early 2007, Hutchison Telecom sold its 67% ownership in the Indian mobile operator Hutch Essar to Vodafone for US$13.1 billion, including $2 billion in debt.
In December 2007, minority shareholder Orascom Telecom transferred a 14.2% holding in Hutchison Telecommunications International (HTIL) to parent company Hutchison Whampoa for HK$7.5 billion (approximately US$962 million). Earlier that year, Orascom had reduced its ownership from 19.3% to 16.3% through a private placement.
In 2009, Hutchison disposed of its controlling interest in Orange Israel by selling to Scailex Corporation, thereby discontinuing use of the Orange brand for its mobile services.
That same year, it spun off Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings (stock code: 215) on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
The company underwent privatization in 2010.
At present, Swedish telecommunications firm Tele2 holds a 27.37% share in Hutchison Asia Telecom following an acquisition pending completion.
Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison
In July 2005, Hutchison Telecom acquired a 60% ownership stake in PT Hutchison 3 Indonesia ("H3I"), formerly known as PT Hutchison CP Telecommunications and associated entities, from Charoen Pokphand Group Indonesia. In 2006, H3I contracted Siemens to develop and operate state-of-the-art 2G and 3G networks, launching commercial services under the 3 brand on 29 March 2007.
Indonesia’s substantial population combined with relatively low mobile penetration positioned it as a critical growth market aligned with Hutchison Telecom’s emerging market focus. By September 2009, H3I had amassed around 7.3 million subscribers.
In September 2021, Hutchison Telecom revealed plans to merge H3I with Ooredoo’s Indosat (operator of IM3 Ooredoo networks), culminating in the creation of Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (IOH), finalized on 4 January 2022.
Hutch Sri Lanka
Hutch Sri Lanka is predominantly owned by CK Hutchison Holdings Limited with an 85% share, while the remaining portion belongs to Emirates Telecommunication Group PJSC. Initially introduced as "CallLink," it was the second mobile network operator in Sri Lanka. After Hutchison acquired the company in 1998, it set out to establish a nationwide presence and, by September 2018, had extended coverage to nearly 90% of the country. On 30 November 2018, Hutch announced its acquisition of Etisalat Sri Lanka.
The network operates GSM/EDGE on the 900/1800 MHz bands, launched HSPA+ technology on the 2100 MHz frequency in 2012, and began deploying 4G services on the 1800 MHz band in 2018, followed by expansion to the 900 MHz band in 2019.
Vietnamobile
In July 2004, Hutchison Telecommunications (Vietnam) S.à r.l., a fully owned subsidiary, entered into a partnership with Hanoi Telecom Joint Stock Company. After obtaining its investment license in February 2005, it commenced CDMA operations under the HT Mobile brand in January 2007. Although the network quality was superior, adoption rates were hindered by a scarcity of affordable CDMA handsets supporting the Vietnamese language.
Following approval in March 2008 to transition from CDMA to GSM technology, the company rebranded as "Vietnamobile" in April 2009. Within six months, it surpassed one million subscribers, mainly within the prepaid market segment, indicating substantial growth opportunities in the region.
Hutchison India
Hutchison Essar Limited launched its services under the "Orange" brand in Mumbai while using "Hutch" elsewhere. The company unified its branding nationwide amid rapid growth, becoming India's third-largest mobile operator through acquisitions such as BPL, Fascel, Command, and Aircel Digilink. On 31 March 2007, Hutchison Essar divested its 67.1% ownership to Vodafone.
Hutchison Orange Israel
After divesting Orange plc to Mannesmann AG in 1999, Hutchison retained use of the Orange brand within Israel. More recently, they sold their controlling interest to Scailex Corporation, concluding Hutchison Telecom’s involvement with the Orange brand. Scailex Corporation continues operating under the Orange name.
Hutch Thailand
In 2000, Hutchison Telecom formed a joint venture with CAT Telecom Public Company Limited called Hutchison CAT Wireless MultiMedia Ltd., which held exclusive marketing rights for CAT Telecom’s CDMA mobile services covering 25 provinces in Thailand. These services were launched under the Hutch brand in 2003, delivering high-speed voice and data wireless connectivity. Hutch Thailand ceased its CDMA operations in 2013.