Full-service provider China Telecom has reported operating revenue of CNY361 billion (USD50 billion) for the nine months to end-September 2022, an increase of 9.6% year-on-year. Service revenue accounted for CNY329 billion, an improvement of 8.0% compared to 9M21. EBITDA for the period was CNY100 billion – up 4.3% y-o-y – whilst net profit attributable to shareholders for the nine months was CNY25 billion (up 12.0%).

Telecom counted a total of 389.89 million mobile subscriptions at 30 September 2022, up from 369.66 million a year earlier, of which 251.04 million were 5G package subscribers compared to 155.54 million in September 2021. Regarding its mobile services, Telecom noted that it ‘insisted on the individual informatisation upgrade led by 5G, continued to improve 5G network coverage, continuously enriched 5G applications, and promoted network access and usage for 5G subscribers, driving the steady increase of user scale and value’. Service revenue from mobile services rose to CNY148 billion for the nine months (up 5.6% y-o-y), with mobile ARPU reaching CNY45.5 for the period.

Meanwhile, fixed broadband subscriptions grew from 167.64 million in Q3 2021 to 178.68 million at end-September 2022. Revenue from the operator’s Wireline and Smart Family division grew by 4.6% y-o-y to CNY89 billion, with blended ARPU for fixed broadband services (including Smart Family services) reaching CNY46.6 for the period.

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