China - Mobile Market - Overview, Statistics and Forecasts
China has built an extensive mobile infrastructure that now supports the largest subscriber base in the world. Predominantly using 2G architecture, the market was transformed in 2008 when the government intervened and created three major full service operators and issued the long awaited 3G licences. The ruling that all three operators use different 3G standards has put pressure on China Mobile to succeed with the locally developed TD-SCDMA technology. This report provides detailed statistics and insights into the mobile market in China by operator and technology. Forecasts are given for the total mobile subscriber base and 3G subscribers to 2018.
Key developments:
Strong mobile growth passing 1.1 billion subscribers; a more equitable distribution of market share developing for 3G services; the continuation of extensive LTE trials; the shift to data based applications.
Companies covered in this report include:
China Mobile; China Telecom; China Unicom.
- 1. Synopsis
- 2. Mobile communications
- 2.1 Overview of China's mobile market
- 2.2 Mobile statistics
- 2.2.1 Mobile subscribers 1995-2014
- 2.2.2 Mobile subscribers by operator
- 2.3 Mobile technologies
- 2.3.1 PAS/PHS (Little Smart/Xiaolingtong)
- 2.3.2 GSM
- 2.3.3 General Packet Radio Service (GPRS)
- 2.3.4 Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE)
- 2.3.5 CDMA
- 2.4 Third Generation (3G) mobile
- 2.4.1 Background
- 2.4.2 3G Investments
- 2.5 Fourth Generation (4G) mobile
- 2.6 Voice over LTE (VoLTE)
- 3. Mobile Services
- 3.1 Short Message Service (SMS)
- 3.2 M2M
- 3.3 Mobile applications
- 3.4 Mobile internet
- 3.5 Forecast: Mobile subscribers 2013-2014; 2018
- 3.5.1 Forecast: Total mobile subscribers 2013-2014; 2018
- 3.5.2 Forecast: 3G mobile subscribers
- 3.5.3 Forecasting methodology
- 4. Related reports
- Table 1 Mobile subscribers and annual change 1995 - 2014
- Table 2 Mobile subscribers by operator and annual change December 2012
- Table 3 Little Smart (PHS) subscribers 2002 - 2012
- Table 4 China Telecom CDMA subscribers pre/postpaid, MOU and ARPU 2002 - 2012
- Table 5 3G subscribers in China 2008 - 2013
- Table 6 Growth of text messages (SMS) in China and annual change 2000 - 2013
- Table 7 China Mobile SMS usage volume and annual change 2003 - 2012
- Table 8 Leading mobile value added services by subscribers and penetration - 2012
- Table 9 Mobile internet subscribers and annual change 2006 - 2013
- Table 10 China Mobile - mobile internet use 2010 - 2013
- Table 11 Forecast mobile subscribers and penetration lower band forecast 2013 - 2014; 2018
- Table 12 Forecast mobile subscribers and penetration higher band forecast 2013 - 2014; 2018
- Table 13 Forecast 3G mobile subscribers and share of mobile market 2013 - 2014, 2018
- Chart 1 China mobile subscriber growth, population penetration 2000 - 2014
- Chart 2 China operator market share 2G vs 3G December 2012
- Chart 3 Leading mobile value added services by subscribers and penetration 2012
- Chart 4 China popular mobile internet applications December 2011