Press Releases

For immediate release

• HGC is the first to join with strategic partners to provide eLearning applications on a cloud platform for the Hong Kong education sector
• By interconnecting our three core network facilities - world-class data centres, ample supply of overseas bandwidth and our local fibre-to-the-school network that offers up to 1G bandwidth - the HGC eduCloud Service enables the sector to achieve speedier and steadier web operations
• Customers can now put their daily IT operations in safe hands with professional expertise to manage, organise and centralise their network resources
• High scalability and flexibility of HGC eduCloud virtualised facilities can simultaneously and efficiently handle enormous flows of network data
• For an affordable monthly fee, customers can now enjoy tremendous support from HGC eduCloud and roll out eLearning projects with great cost efficiency

Hong Kong, 12 December, 2011 - Hutchison Global Communications Limited (HGC), the fixed-line operation of Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings Limited (HTHKH; Stock code 215), today announced the launch of the HGC eduCloud Service - Hong Kong's first dedicated cloud platform bundled with eLearning applications for the education sector. As well as forming strategic partnerships with online content providers, school management software developers and cloud solution providers, HGC's professional expertise can help the education sector to manage, organise and centralise its network resources substained by state-of-the-art data centres and other advanced network facilities.

Boosting Hong Kong's eLearning network infrastructure
HGC was the first operator in Hong Kong to develop a fibre-to-the-school (FTTS) network in 2001, providing up to 1G in bandwidth to cope with today's needs. In addition to its other critical facilities - such as ample supply of bandwidth connecting overseas and two local data centres with ISO accreditation and up to Tier3+ world-class standard - HGC is more than ready to provide the sector with a comprehensive range of eduCloud services and related infrastructural support, thus laying a solid foundation for the development of eLearning in Hong Kong.

HGC eduCloud improves network efficiency
HGC eduCloud provides a complete virtualised services ranging from servers, CPU and storage memory, freeing customers from the complexity of investing in hardware, and enabling schools to launch eLearning projects quickly and easily.

With HGC eduCloud, schools can manage, organise and centralise their network resources under one roof, putting their dedicated IT and operations onto a single platform to save staffing and management costs. Saved resources can now be re-allocated to the core development plans that benefit students and to other major operations.

A highly scalable and flexible platform
All the virtualised facilities under the HGC eduCloud Service are highly scalable and flexible. Customers can choose their own cloud requirements on a usage basis. HGC eduCloud excels specifically in accommodating additional heavy data loads that occur during school admissions, examination result announcements or other similar periods of high website traffic.

Combining the high-productivity and high-speed advantages of the HGC eduCloud Service, customers can take advantage of multiple advanced services, backed by our top-notch data centres, including robust security systems, professional management and equipment monitoring, and 24x7 technical support. Customers' technical assets can be better protected and free from issues caused by system downtime.

First cloud platform with eduCloud applications for the education sector
Apart from providing technical support and resources management, HGC eduCloud has also been the first to include partnerships with in-field operators to offer a range of cloud applications with a focus on enhancing eLearning. Strategic partners in the first phase include:

1. "e-Trainer Limited" - a collaboration in providing an online learning platform named "e-legends". This is the first learning platform to combine learning of full academic subjects with their in-house developed roleplaying games. This not only promotes better learning results, but also stimulates anytime, anywhere learning.
2. "WatchGuard Technologies Inc." - offering a series of cloud security services such as website and spam filtering, anti-virus and other threat protections.
3. "e4learn" - jointly introduces with HGC a new eLearning solution, which programmes multimedia lessons online within certain timeframes, offering students increased flexibility but also regulating their study habits, promoting a learning experience simply the same as traditional lessons that require attendance in person.
4. "Broadlearning Limited" - is cooperating with HGC to offer cloud-supported teaching and school administration systems and online learning softwares so as to improve teaching and school management efficiency and to increase interaction between teachers and students.

Leading a new way to eLearning
HGC Commercial Director (Wholesale and Business Market) Andrew Lee said: "HGC has long endeavoured to provide telecom services for the education sector and to deploy a reliable, high-speed fibre-to-the-school network. Today, our network already covers close to 80% of schools locally. We can even upgrade the bandwidth from 100M up to 1G for schools as required, Our new data centre, in addition, is already in service to meet the increasing demand. Additionally, the cloud and virtualization technologies have become technically mature in recent years encouraging more and more cloud solutions to come to market. These provide a flourishing environment for future HGC eduCloud development.

Mr Lee further explained: "The Education Bureau has announced earlier this year to introduce the "Pilots Scheme on eLearning in Schools" in which 21 projects have been shortlisted. Provided with such timing, we are so proud that a sector specific eduCloud platform is launched today. Along with our full readiness in network infrastructure,eduCloud partners, technologies and solutions, we are also the pioneer in combining one single cloud platform with both the cloud technology and eLearning applications offering teaching, learning and administrative content and solutions through our strategic partnerships. In future, we will continue to expand our platform by adding more eduCloud applications and further developing eLearning infrastructural support to meet the needs in the sector."

Professional support for an affordable cost
HGC eduCloud Service is structured to allow customers to freely choose the combination of high-speed bandwidth, virtualised cloud facilities and eduCloud applications that meet their needs. With just a single monthly fee, customers can begin eLearning projects immediately, regardless of the scale or size, and enjoy the many advantages brought by the HGC eduCloud Service and professional support at an affordable cost.

About Hutchison Global Communications Limited
Hutchison Global Communications Limited (HGC) owns one of the largest fibre-to-the-building telecommunications networks in Hong Kong. Since establishment in 1995, it has been fully committed to building its own 100% optical fibre network infrastructure and introducing the most advanced facilities. Coupled with its four cross-border routes integrated with all three of mainland China's tier-one telecommunications operators and world-class international network, HGC provides a comprehensive range of fixed-line telecommunications services locally and overseas. HGC is a subsidiary of Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings Limited (HTHKH; Stock Code: 215). HTHKH is a leading integrated telecommunications service operator, offering mobile and fixed-line services to local and international customers. For more information on HGC, please visit www.hgc.com.hk. For more information on HTHKH, please visit www.hthkh.com.