Marbridge Daily

5G Subscriber Base of China's Three Main Telcos Nears 703 Mln in November 2021

Marbridge Consulting, 12/20/21

The listed arms of China's three main telecom operators have announced their subscriber totals for the month of November 2021, including a combined net increase of just under 0.9 mln mobile subscribers in China, boosting their combined mobile subscriber base to over 1.646 bln. While the net increase in total mobile subs was relatively modest, the three operators continued to steadily migrate existing customers to 5G, adding a combined 35.17 mln 5G package subscribers during the month. As of the end of November, the three operators' combined 5G package subscriber base reached 702.69 mln, for a 5G penetration rate of 42.7%.

As of the end of November, 5G package subscribers accounted for 48.1%, 47.1%, and 39.1% of the total mobile subscriber bases of China Telecom, China Unicom, and China Mobile, respectively.

China Mobile

China Mobile (0941.HK) reported a net loss of 0.32 mln mobile subscribers during the month, reducing the telecom operator's total mobile user base to 956.78 mln. Of this total, 819.26 mln were 4G subscribers and 374.39 mln were 5G package customers, representing net increases of 0.08 mln and 18.87 mln, respectively, compared to the previous month.

China Mobile defines 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 Mobile added 2.24 mln new fixed-line broadband subscribers (registered accounts) in November, increasing its total fixed-line broadband user base to 240.57 mln.

China Telecom

China Telecom (0728.HK; 601728.SH) saw a net increase of 0.70 mln mobile subscribers in November, raising its total to 371.94 mln, of which 178.76 mln were 5G package subscribers. During the month, the operator's 5G package subscriber base rose by 10.27 mln subs.

China Telecom lost 0.11 mln fixed-line telephone subs in November, reducing its total to 106.80 mln.

China Telecom added 0.70 mln fixed-line broadband subscribers (registered accounts) during the month, increasing its total to 169.32 mln.

China Unicom

China Unicom (0762.HK; 600050.SH) reported a net gain of 0.51 mln mobile billing subscribers, increasing its total mobile billing user base to 317.34 mln. Of the total, 149.54 mln were 5G package subscribers, with a net addition of 6.03 mln 5G package subs during the month.

China Unicom lost 0.03 mln fixed-line telephone subscribers in November, dropping its total to 47.05 mln.

The operator gained 0.88 mln fixed-line broadband subscribers (registered accounts) in November, raising its total to 94.83 mln.

User Base Market Share by Operator

China Mobile's share of the nation's total mobile subscriber base as of the end of November 2021 shrank further to 58.13%, compared to 58.18% at the end of October 2021 and 58.92% at the end of November 2020. China Telecom's share grew to 22.60%, up from 22.57% at the end of October 2021 and 21.90% at the end of November 2020, and China Unicom's share increased to 19.28%, up from 19.26% at the end of October 2021 and 19.17% at the end of November 2020.

Mobile Subscriber Stats for China's Three Main Carriers (Unit: Mln)

Keywords: wireless national statistics China Telecom China Mobile China Unicom fixed-line broadband penetration telecom 4G market share mobile subscribers 5G broadband subscribers 0728.HK 0762.HK 0941.HK 600050.SH 601728.SH fixed-line subscribers