James Delahunty
21 Dec 2010 0:28
China Mobile, which has the largest mobile telecommunications network in the world, revealed that it hit a massive 579.6 million subscribers in November.
The state-owned enterprise, listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Hong Kong stock exchange, said the figure included 18.8 million users of its relatively new 3G Network. China Mobile also is said to be the most valuable mobile telecommunications company in the world.
Rapid expansion of China Mobile's 2G network across mainland China meant that by 2006, over 97 percent of China's massive population lived in an area where there was reception, giving it a much greater share of rural market than any of its competitors.
Behind China Mobile in the market is China Unicom. The provider said its mobile subscribers rose to 165.5 million during November. Of the total, it reports 12.8 million use its 3G network.
China's third largest provider, China Telecom (mobile services - it remains China's largest fixed-line provider), saw its subscriber-base increase to 88 million.