China’s three main telecom operators experienced a combined net increase of approximately 4.3 milion mobile subscribers in China, boosting their combined mobile subscriber base to over 1.645 Bn. Among the combined net increase in mobile subscribers, 43.82 milion were 5G package subscribers, bringing the three operators’ combined 5G package subscriber base to 667.52 mln, for a 5G penetration rate of 40.6%.
At the end of October 2021, 5G package subscribers accounted for 45.4%, 45.3%, and 37.1% of the total mobile subscriber bases of China Telecom, China Unicom, and China Mobile, respectively.
These above are data published by Marbridge Consulting based on the subscriber totals for the month of October 2021 announced by lthe isted arms of China’s three main telecom operators.
China Mobile, leader in subscribers at the end of October 2021, was the first Chinese telco in terms of increase rate of 5G subscribers last month as well.
But this company’s share of the nation’s total mobile subscriber base as of the end of October 2021 shrank further to 58.18%, compared to 58.24% at the end of September 2021 and 58.94% at the end of October 2020. China Telecom’s share grew to 22.57%, up from 22.53% at the end of September 2021 and 21.81% at the end of October 2020, and China Unicom’s share increased to 19.26%, up from 19.23% at the end of September 2021 and 19.25% at the end of October 2020.
China Mobile
China Mobile reported a net gain of 1.40 milion mobile subscribers during the month, raising the telecom operator’s total mobile user base to 957.11 million.
Of this total, 819.18 million were 4G subscribers and 355.52 million were 5G package customers, representing net increases of 3.44 million and 24.30 million, respectively, compared to the previous month.
China Mobile added 2.97 mln new fixed-line broadband subscribers (registered accounts) in October, increasing its total fixed-line broadband user base to 238.32 mln.
This company considers a 5G package customer as a mobile customer who has subscribed to 5G tariff plans. Customers sharing 5G tariff plans without subscription are not included in the operator’s 5G subscriber totals.
China Telecom
China Telecom enjoyed a net increase of 1.58 milion mobile subscribers in October, raising its total to 371.24 milion, of which 168.49 milion were 5G package subscribers. During the month, the operator’s 5G package subscriber base rose by 12.95 milion subscribers.
China Telecom lost 0.18 milion fixed-line telephone subs in October, reducing its total to 106.91.
China Telecom added 0.98 milion fixed-line broadband subscribers (registered accounts) during the month, increasing its total to 168.62 milion.
China Unicom
China Unicom reported a net gain of 1.28 mlion mobile billing subscribers, increasing its total mobile billing user base to 316.84 milion. Of the total, 143.51 milion were 5G package subscribers, with a net addition of 6.57 milion ln 5G package subs during the month.
China Unicom lost 0.02 milion fixed-line telephone subscribers in October, dropping its total to 47.08 milion
The operator gained 0.96 milion fixed-line broadband subscribers (registered accounts) in October, pushing up its total to 93.96 milion.
