China Mobile Ltd., the world’s biggest wireless carrier by users, posted a 3.3 percent increase in fourth-quarter profit as a rebound in the world’s third- biggest economy boosted phone usage.

China Mobile, with more users than the combined populations of the U.S. and Japan, gained sales as businesses and consumers made more calls spurred by economic growth in China that accelerated to the fastest in two years. Still, the carrier added fewer new subscribers as competition from smaller rivals China Telecom Corp. and China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd. increased after an industry revamp.

 source:C114