China Mobile's 3G users grow by 239,000 in August

China Mobile said on September 21 that its 3G users increased by 239,000 in August. The increase is 85.3 percent higher compared with the previous month. However, the company's goal to win 3 million 3G users in the whole 2009 is still difficult to reach.

August data indicated that the number of China Mobile's new 3G users had reversed its downward trend. The company's 3G users recorded a growth of 213,000 in June, but the increase in July was only 129,000.

Shi Lei, an analyst at BDA, said that the increase of China Mobile's new 3G users was the result of the company's heavy subsidy on 3G users and many new 3G cell phones unveiled recently.

By the end of August, China Mobile's 3G users totaled 1.33 million, accounting for only 44 percent of its annual goal.

Wang Jianzhou, chairman of China Mobile, has said at the Summer Davos 2009 that the company would spend 6 billion yuan in 3G network construction this year.

The number of China Mobile's users stood at 502.9 million by the end of August, said the company.