1O1O 5G Golden Spectrum Arrives at Diamond Hill MTR
Station for an Enhanced Mobile Network Experience
For many people in Hong Kong, an MTR
journey is also part of their connected digital day. Commuters may check emails
before arriving at the office, respond to business messages while changing
trains, access documents through cloud platforms, stream music or video, browse
social media, use navigation services or stay updated through real-time
information.
As these activities become increasingly
data-intensive, the demands placed on mobile networks are also evolving. This
is particularly relevant in busy railway environments, where large numbers of
smartphones and connected devices may be accessing mobile data at the same
time.
To further enhance mobile connectivity
across the MTR network, Diamond Hill Station has completed an upgrade involving
3.3GHz and 3.5GHz indoor base stations, adding what is referred to as 5G
“Golden Spectrum”. Diamond Hill is one of 24 designated MTR stations included
in the programme, which is designed to increase mobile network capacity and
performance.
5G Golden Spectrum Arrives at Diamond Hill MTR Station
Diamond Hill plays a distinctive role in
Hong Kong’s railway network because it serves as an interchange between the
Kwun Tong Line and the Tuen Ma Line.
The station was expanded to support
interchange between the two railway lines, strengthening connections between
areas including Kowloon East and the eastern New Territories. Three connecting
passageways were introduced between the Kwun Tong Line and Tuen Ma Line
concourses as part of the expanded station.
This interchange function also creates a
wide range of mobile usage scenarios. A passenger changing trains may be
reading work messages or reviewing an email. Another may be accessing a cloud
document before arriving at a meeting. Others may be streaming video, browsing
social platforms, checking maps or using other real-time digital services.
In an environment where many devices are
connected simultaneously, network performance is therefore about more than the
maximum download speed available to one individual device. The overall capacity
of the network to accommodate concentrated mobile data demand is equally
important.
By introducing additional 3.3GHz and 3.5GHz
resources, the Diamond Hill upgrade helps provide additional 5G capacity to
support these increasingly connected travel scenarios, subject to compatible
devices, network conditions and other environmental factors.
What Is 5G “Golden Spectrum”?
A modern 5G network does not operate on a
single radio frequency. Instead, network operators use combinations of low-,
mid- and high-band spectrum, with each part of the spectrum contributing
different characteristics to the overall network.
The 3.3GHz and 3.5GHz frequencies being
deployed in the MTR upgrade programme are mid-band spectrum. The Office of the
Communications Authority identifies the 3.3GHz and 3.5GHz bands as frequencies
used for 5G New Radio services in Hong Kong, while 1O1O describes its mid-band
3.3GHz, 3.5GHz and 4.9GHz resources as 5G “Golden Spectrum”.
Mid-band spectrum is particularly
significant for 5G because it can provide a practical balance between network
speed, capacity and coverage.
For consumers, the technical terminology is
less important than what additional spectrum makes possible. More spectrum
gives a mobile network additional resources for carrying data. This can become
particularly valuable when many users in the same location are simultaneously
uploading photos, downloading documents, accessing cloud applications, making
video calls or streaming high-resolution content.
This is why spectrum and capacity are
essential parts of the conversation around 5G development—not simply peak
speed.
Why Is 5G Network Capacity Important on the MTR?
An underground railway presents a very
different mobile networking environment from many outdoor locations.
Within a typical journey, passengers move
through station concourses, platforms, interchange passages, trains and
tunnels. During busy periods, a large number of users may simultaneously access
mobile services within a relatively concentrated area.
At the same time, the nature of the data
being consumed has changed significantly. Mobile connectivity is no longer
primarily about simple webpages or text messages. Cloud applications,
high-definition video, social platforms, real-time collaboration tools and
AI-powered applications can all generate greater and more continuous data
requirements.
As a result, Network Capacity is an
increasingly important measure of infrastructure performance.
A network may be capable of delivering high
speeds under ideal conditions, but in a busy transport environment it must also
have sufficient resources to support many concurrent users and applications.
Adding 3.3GHz and 3.5GHz spectrum helps increase the amount of network capacity
available in these high-traffic locations.
MTR Corporation states that its ongoing 5G
enhancement programme is intended to increase transmission speeds as well as
overall network capacity and performance.
5G Upgrades Are Progressing Across Major MTR Stations
The Diamond Hill upgrade is part of a wider
MTR network enhancement programme rather than a standalone project.
Since 2024, MTR Corporation has been
working with Hong Kong’s four mobile network operators to further enhance 5G
connectivity across the railway system. Installation of 3.3GHz and 3.5GHz
indoor base stations has been planned for 24 designated MTR stations.
According to the latest published MTR
project update, as of the end of April 2026, upgrades had been completed at 17
stations: Hong Kong, Kowloon, Central, Admiralty, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, Tin
Hau, Tsim Sha Tsui, North Point, Quarry Bay, Yau Ma Tei, Prince Edward, Cheung
Sha Wan, Lai Chi Kok, Wong Tai Sin, Diamond Hill and Yau Tong, together with
their associated tunnels. These locations have been equipped with 5G Golden
Spectrum.
Work remains in progress at seven stations:
Mei Foo, Lai King, Tsing Yi, Kowloon Tong, Lok Fu, Lam Tin and Tiu Keng Leng.
The relevant upgrades are scheduled for completion between 2026 and 2027. MTR
has also indicated that it is exploring further upgrades at additional stations
in collaboration with mobile network operators.
It is also important to distinguish this
programme from basic 5G availability. MTR states that all MTR stations are
already covered by 5G services. The Golden Spectrum programme is therefore
about further enhancing existing 5G infrastructure with additional 3.3GHz and
3.5GHz capacity, rather than introducing 5G to Diamond Hill for the first time.
From Business Communications to Entertainment: 5G as Part
of Everyday Travel
The value of network infrastructure is
ultimately reflected in the everyday activities it supports.
For business customers and commuters, a
train journey may increasingly become an extension of the working day. Checking
an important email, responding to a business messaging platform, accessing a
cloud-based presentation or document, using enterprise applications and
participating in voice or video communications can all depend on reliable
mobile data access.
Cloud-based working also means that
important files and applications are no longer necessarily stored on a single
device. As more business tools move to cloud platforms, mobile connectivity
becomes an increasingly important link between employees and their digital
workspace.
Entertainment creates another layer of
demand. Music streaming, high-resolution video, short-form video and social
platforms involve continuous transfers of data. As video resolution and content
quality increase, the amount of data required for these services also grows.
The expanding digital lifestyle goes
further still. Generative AI applications, cloud-based AI platforms, mobile
payment, digital ticketing, navigation and real-time information services are
becoming part of everyday smartphone usage. Many of these applications depend
on frequent communication between a mobile device and remote cloud
infrastructure.
Together, these trends explain why
increasing network capacity is important. The value of a 3.3GHz and 3.5GHz
upgrade should not be viewed only in terms of a single speed test. Its broader
role is to provide additional network resources that can support the growing
range of data-intensive services used throughout the day.
1O1O Continues to Advance Hong Kong’s 5G Network
Experience
The enhancement at Diamond Hill is one part
of the continuing development of Hong Kong’s mobile network infrastructure.
According to 1O1O’s official 5G
information, its network uses mid-band spectrum resources including 3.3GHz,
3.5GHz and 4.9GHz, alongside other frequency bands that contribute different
coverage and capacity characteristics.
As cloud services, streaming media,
real-time communications, AI applications and other digital platforms continue
to evolve, mobile networks will need to support both higher volumes of data and
a broader variety of connected experiences.
Continuous network investment is therefore
relevant not only to individual MTR stations but also to the wider way people
work, communicate and use digital services across Hong Kong. By enhancing
capacity at high-traffic locations such as Diamond Hill and other major MTR
stations, 1O1O continues to develop the network infrastructure supporting an
increasingly connected lifestyle.
Stay connected with 1O1O on Facebook and
Instagram for further updates on 1O1O 5G network enhancements and the latest
service information.
Actual mobile network experience may vary
depending on location, compatible device capabilities, available network
resources and other environmental conditions.
FAQ
Q1:
Does Diamond Hill MTR Station support 5G Golden Spectrum?
Yes. According to the latest MTR project
information, Diamond Hill Station and its associated tunnels have completed the
3.3GHz and 3.5GHz upgrade and have been equipped with 5G Golden Spectrum.
Q2:
What is 5G Golden Spectrum?
The term generally refers to mid-band
spectrum used for 5G services. In the MTR upgrade programme, 3.3GHz and 3.5GHz
spectrum is being deployed to provide additional network capacity while
maintaining a practical balance between speed and coverage.
Q3:
How can 5G Golden Spectrum benefit MTR passengers?
Additional 3.3GHz and 3.5GHz spectrum can
enhance network capacity in busy transport environments, helping the network
support mobile activities such as messaging, cloud applications, streaming,
video communication and AI applications.
Q4:
Which MTR lines serve Diamond Hill Station?
Diamond Hill is an interchange station
serving both the Kwun Tong Line and the Tuen Ma Line.
Q5:
How many MTR stations have completed the 5G Golden Spectrum upgrade?
As
of the end of April 2026, 17 of the 24 designated MTR stations had completed
the upgrade. Work at the remaining seven stations is scheduled for completion
between 2026 and 2027.
