China's mobile phone subscribers hit 388m
(AFP)
Updated: 2005-12-27 16:07

The number of mobile phone subscribers in China reached 388 million by the end of November, as usage continues to grow in the largest market in the world.

A Chinese couple looks at a mobile phone in Shanghai, October 27, 2005. The number of mobile phone subscribers in China reached 388 million by the end of November. [Newsphoto/file]

That means some 29 percent, or nearly one-third, of China's 1.3 billion population are using a mobile phone.

By the end of November, there were 29.1 mobile phones for every 100 Chinese, Xinhua news agency said, citing the Ministry of Information Industry.

The new figure represented an increase of 53.3 million over the end of last year, said the ministry.

The number of new mobile phone subscribers in China has been growing by an average 4.84 million per month during the first 11 months.

The number of mobile phone subscribers in China is predicted to rise to 520 million by 2008 and 600 million by 2010, according to earlier state reports.

It is estimated that the mobile telecommunications market will contribute 500 billion yuan (US$61 billion) to China's total GDP for 2005, or eight percent to 10 percent of the national total, according to earlier reports.