International Value Added Network Service (IVANS)

IVANS operators in Hong Kong provide a wide range of value-added
services such as electronic mailbox, store-and-forward facsimile and
electronic data interchange (EDI) over international private leased circuits
(IPLCs) between Hong Kong and other places. Voice communications are
restricted to value-added voice services. At the end of 1997, there were
55 IVANS operators of whom 11 operators also provide Internet access
service. Following a TA statement in April 1996 that the operation of
Virtual Private Network (VPN) services was outside the exclusivities of
HKTI's licence by the end of 1997, 17 licences for VPN services were
issued.

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