CHINA Mobile Ltd., the world’s largest telecom operator by way of subscribers, reported that its subscriber base stood at a mammoth 820.1 million at the end of August, a jump from 818.7 million in July. The growth was largely driven by a massive increase in 4G LTE connections where over 20 million subscribers were added, taking the tally of the same to 229.3 million.

    China Mobile commands about 63 percent of its domestic market. The company gained 100 million subscribers in the first half of the year while the customer addition in August lifted its share in the 4G market to around 80 percent. Meanwhile, the company aims to add another 300 million 4G customers by the end of this year.

    The trend hints at the possibility of 3G customers switching to 4G, as evident from a decline in the 3G subscriber base. Meanwhile, rivals like China Unicom and China Telecom also reported subscriber addition.

    The subscriber addition presents a contrasting picture with that of the Chinese economy, which shows a sluggish growth rate and unexciting PMI data. Thus, increased 4G uptake is an encouraging factor in such a scenario for not only the telecom space, but for the economy as a whole.

    Growing demand for 4G shows the improving purchasing power in the economy, which may signal other ailing sectors a recovery in the near future. China Mobile, by leading the pack, may well be the growth driver of China needs.

    (SD-Agencies)