Page 27 - Sphere No.12 (Aug 2004)

SPHERE 25
W hen HGC launched the world’s first International
Ethernet connection to South Korea in March
2004, the service kicked off with a friendly video
football match against Hong Kong.
“It was incredibly clear and realistic,” recalls Peter Wong,
CEO of HGCH. “This is very exciting for gamers.”
While the match ended in a draw, the friendly encounter
marked a major milestone in the international evolution of
broadband technology.
It was the first time that two markets had established a
direct Metro Ethernet link with each other across geograph-
ical boundaries, allowing users on both sides to interact at
the same high speeds they would expect if they were in the
same room. Known as an Inter-autonomous System
International Ethernet Network, the link-up was the first of
its kind in the world, and uses Virtual Private LAN Service.
For ardent gamers, the benefits are obvious. Internet
gaming is overwhelmingly reliant on the kind of ultramodern
bandwidth levels that HGCH can now provide – allowing
users at different terminals to seamlessly integrate data-
heavy graphics, animation and sound for the perfect
gaming experience.
HGC has also partnered with Microsoft to ensure that its
residential broadband service is Xbox Live compatible. This
means Xbox users can use HGC broadband to talk and
compete with nearly 750,000 gamers in the global Xbox
Live community.
While the older generation may scoff at the benefits of
letting their children waste more time playing video games,
it is worth noting that online gaming is rapidly becoming
a point of entry for the younger generation. These kids will
soon enter the real world, where their automatic knowl-
edge of HGC’s superior broadband applications will be of
real value when they become decision makers themselves.
relevant to an increasingly connected society. The company
maintains close contact with the other operations of the HWL
Group and is quick to capitalise on potential synergies,
whether it be driving convergence with 3, Hutchison’s global
3G operations, or supplying superior capabilities to the 2G
network of Hutchison Telecom (HK).
For the first time since its inception, the company recently
turned a net profit and will soon begin reaping dividends
from its HK$10 billion investment.
“We will go from strength to strength,” Wong predicts.
For businessmen like Chen, the old Chinese concept of
guanxi – a network of relationships among various parties for
mutual benefit – is not the only currency that matters.
Broadband connections have become equally vital. As Chen
discovered, it is HGCH’s ability to successfully anticipate and
meet all its customers’ needs that truly sets it apart.
GAME P LAN