China’s users of 3G mobile communication technology are expected to reach 44.8 million by the end of the year, up 339 percent year-on-year, reports yicai.com, citing market research institute DIGITIMES Research.
The institute also estimates the 3G mobile chip market to grow 98 percent year-on-year to 53 million units in 2010. China Mobile (0941.HK) hopes to have 18.8 million 3G users by the end of 2010.
Through the end of June this year, the market share of China Mobile was 71 percent, China Unicom’s (600050, 0762.HK) was 20 percent, and China Telecom (0728.HK) took nine percent of the domestic mobile phone market.
In the 3G mobile market, China Mobile’s market share was 42 percent, China Unicom’s was 30 percent, and China Telecom’s was 28 percent.
Statistics published by DIGITIMES showed that Chinese 3G users comprise 3.2 percent of total mobile users, below the world average of 13.9 percent.
The institute estimates China’s 3G users will hit 100 million by 2012 and 200 million by 2013.